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

This photograph of Miss French was produced by the cigarette company, Wm. S. Kimball & Co. These cards were printed using a photomechanical process, likely involving multiple stages of chemical treatment, and were designed for mass production. They are made from paper, an inexpensive material made from wood pulp, and are essentially a form of advertising. The image itself presents a posed portrait of an actress, intended to be collected and traded. The card's inherent value lies not in its artistic merit, but in its function as a promotional item. The image of Miss French, likely captured in a studio, was reproduced and distributed on a massive scale, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and popular culture. The very act of collecting these cards became a social activity, driven by consumerism and the allure of celebrity. The use of photography and mass-production techniques democratizes image-making, making it accessible to a wide audience. Looking at the image, we might ask ourselves what this reveals about shifting social values during the Industrial Age.