Portrait of woman, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: This portrait, from the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company "Novelties" series, circa 1889, is a lithograph with etching – it's so small and delicate! What first catches your eye about this work? Curator: The circular format immediately evokes a sense of enclosure, doesn't it? It resembles a mirror, perhaps, or a keepsake locket. Consider the context - tobacco cards. These images weren't high art; they were mass-produced items meant to be collected, traded, and, ultimately, discarded. The woman's direct gaze, however, transcends the ephemerality of its initial function. Doesn’t her expression, so carefully rendered, suggest a silent narrative? Editor: Definitely. She almost looks like she is about to speak. There's something intimate, even a bit flirtatious, about the way she's glancing over her shoulder. It makes me wonder, who was she? Curator: Exactly! The averted gaze and slight smile play into archetypes of feminine allure, deeply rooted in centuries of portraiture. Yet, it’s crucial to remember this wasn't created in a vacuum. Photography was developing, impacting ideas of realism, even in more graphic arts like lithography. What cultural scripts and expectations was Kinney Brothers playing on to sell their product? Editor: I see what you mean. So it is less about her individuality, and more about representing an ideal type, used to create desire… Curator: Precisely! This is less about capturing a person, and more about creating a captivating image. It makes you think, what power dynamics are at play when we interpret such a carefully constructed portrayal? Editor: I had never considered how such a simple image could be layered with so much meaning. It's really eye-opening! Curator: These small objects contain multitudes, prompting endless questions about representation, desire, and the evolving language of visual culture.