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

This card was produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of an "Actresses" series, which were included in cigarette packs. Using photography and printing techniques, the company mass-produced these cards, turning actresses like Miss Fisher into collectible items. The sepia tone of the photograph gives it a nostalgic feel. Note how the actress is posed, draped in a net-like shawl. The image is a careful orchestration of pose and presentation, but it's also worth considering the labor involved in the industrial process that made it possible. This was a time of burgeoning consumer culture, and the image's presence in cigarette packs speaks volumes about how celebrity, desire, and consumption were intertwined. In this light, the card isn't just a portrait, it's a document of social and economic forces at play, collapsing any high/low art distinctions.