Lisbet S. DeBoreff, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Editor: Here we have an 1889 print titled "Lisbet S. DeBoreff" by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., from their Actresses series. It has a really theatrical feel, almost like a stage set. What do you see in this piece that speaks to its time? Curator: This small print, issued as a cigarette card, actually reveals a lot about the commercialization of celebrity and the developing relationship between performance, public image, and consumption in the late 19th century. Kimball & Co. understood the power of associating their product with popular figures. How do you think portraying actresses, specifically, factored into their marketing strategy? Editor: I guess it played into the allure and glamour, things that people would associate with smoking cigarettes. It seems like they're selling an image of sophistication. Curator: Precisely! The actress Lisbet DeBoreff is styled in a manner that evokes stage performance but also presents her as accessible. Note the costume. While vaguely historical and suggesting a narrative, it also allows for a display of the body. These cards helped construct and circulate a very specific type of feminine ideal, one that was both aspirational and subtly titillating. How do you think the distribution of these cards with cigarettes shaped the perception and social status of actresses during this era? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that before, but it's almost like this piece represents the commodification of image and femininity, making these actresses widely accessible but perhaps also reinforcing certain stereotypes. I never knew something so small could have so many implications. Curator: Exactly. Analyzing these objects reveals so much about how power operates through popular imagery and consumer culture. Editor: I’ll definitely be looking at similar images with fresh eyes now! Thanks for opening my perspective on this type of artwork.