Brighton, from the Fancy Bathers series (N187) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

"Brighton, from the Fancy Bathers series" is a chromolithograph issued by the American tobacco company, William S. Kimball & Co. These cards were collected and traded, offering glimpses into the aesthetic and cultural values of the late 19th century. The "Fancy Bathers" series, like many images of its time, walks a tightrope between propriety and the burgeoning commercial interest in the female form. The woman’s pose and attire—a daring, for the time, one-piece bathing suit— hint at changing social attitudes towards women's bodies and their visibility in public spaces. Consider the implications of how this image might have been viewed then, versus how we see it today, in terms of beauty standards, the gaze, and the commercialization of leisure. It is a piece of ephemera, yes, but one that opens a window onto the complex negotiations of gender, class, and commerce in a rapidly changing America.