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

Kittie Chase, from the Actresses series, was produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., as a cigarette card. The sepia-toned image presents a study in contrasts and implied depth within a compact format. Kittie Chase is artfully posed against a textured backdrop, a hay-like setting that introduces a complex interplay of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth. Her figure is strategically positioned to draw the eye through a semiotic engagement with body language and dress. The somewhat blurred edges soften the figure against the background, enhancing the dream-like quality. The lines of the hay and the fence intersect to form dynamic angles which draw the viewer into the scene, while the subject's gaze challenges fixed meanings and values. The use of sepia tones, more than merely a stylistic choice, serves to historicize and perhaps idealize the figure, imbuing her with a sense of nostalgia. Through its unique composition and nuanced use of tone and texture, the image functions as part of a larger discourse about beauty, representation, and the commodification of image during the period.