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

This small card, printed by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., is from a series featuring actresses. It's made using photolithography, a process that allowed images to be reproduced quickly and cheaply. The card's sepia tones give it an antique feel, but it's important to remember that this was a mass-produced item, designed to be collected and traded. The process involved taking a photograph, transferring it to a lithographic stone, and then printing it using ink. The surface is smooth and slightly glossy, reflecting its industrial origins. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing gimmick, part of a larger trend of using images to sell products. They speak to the rise of consumer culture and the ways in which images could be used to create desire and aspiration. The amount of labor that went into making these cards is quite sobering, speaking to the social conditions of the late 19th century. Looking at this card, we can see the intersection of art, commerce, and popular culture, reminding us that even seemingly simple objects can have complex social and historical meanings.