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

This card, “Mlle. Eason, from the Actresses series,” was made by the cigarette company Wm. S. Kimball & Co. This small card, made from paper and printed with an image of Mlle. Eason, an actress, speaks volumes about industrial production and popular culture at the time. Unlike traditional art forms, mass-produced cards like this one were printed in vast quantities, often included in cigarette packs as promotional items. The image itself would have been captured using photographic processes and reproduced via advanced printing technologies. The seemingly simple photograph embodies a shift towards a more democratic and accessible form of visual culture. By understanding the methods of production behind this image, we can challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday commercial objects.