Tregastel, from the Fancy Bathers series (N187) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This chromolithograph from the Fancy Bathers series was issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Part of a series distributed with tobacco products, this image reflects the evolving representation of women in the late 19th century. It attempts to negotiate the Victorian ideals of modesty with the burgeoning desires for female autonomy and participation in public life. We see a woman in a bathing costume that covers her body, yet the form-fitting design and the exposure of her limbs hint at a departure from more restrictive norms. These images were not just advertisements; they were also cultural artifacts that both shaped and reflected societal attitudes toward gender and leisure. How does it feel to consider this image as both a commercial product and a window into the complex negotiations of identity that women navigated during this transformative period? Despite its seemingly innocent portrayal, it carries a charge, a subtle but significant shift in the representation of women in public spaces.