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

Curator: This small print, dating back to 1889, showcases Kate Fellows and belongs to the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. It resides here with us at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What are your initial impressions? Editor: Well, right off the bat, there's a theatricality about her pose and getup. Almost comical, this starlet amid fake rocks holding a strange tasseled wheel. A pocket Venus about to break into song! Curator: Indeed. These cards were originally distributed with Kimball & Co.'s cigarettes, a promotional tactic aimed at bolstering sales and fostering brand recognition through celebrity endorsements. Editor: So, it's essentially advertising dressed up as art. Is that a feathery headdress or some bizarre vegetable sprouting from her head? She looks rather stiff. Perhaps it was cold in the studio, or maybe that pose was the epitome of glamour back then. Curator: Precisely! Consider the role these cards played in shaping celebrity culture. They democratized access to imagery, enabling ordinary citizens to collect and admire prominent figures like Miss Fellows. It represents a turning point in the accessibility of popular imagery. Editor: Ah, the democratization of kitsch. Makes me wonder what she thought of it all. Did she ever sneak a cigarette herself, fueled by the absurdity of it all? She has this slight eye roll as though questioning how did I end up here? What does this do to my "street" cred? I think she has a lot to say without actually uttering a single word. Curator: That’s a refreshing take on it. And I agree, it provides a rather captivating view into the nascent stages of mass media. And how tobacco companies were intertwined with the entertainment business to build popularity. Editor: Exactly. A fleeting glimpse into the late 19th century packaged in something that would eventually just get thrown out, and yet still endures to make us laugh, or at least, wryly smile. Curator: Thank you for sharing your observations! Editor: It was my absolute pleasure!