Bellona, Goddess of the Battle, from the Goddesses of the Greeks and Romans series (N188) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Editor: We are looking at a lithograph from 1889 titled "Bellona, Goddess of the Battle" by William S. Kimball & Co. It feels very... illustrative, almost like a playing card. She's a rosy-cheeked warrior. What stands out to you? Curator: This little card takes me back to those dime novels I used to sneak as a kid – all daring adventures and a bit of classical flair. I see Bellona not just as a symbol of war, but almost a vintage pin-up. There is the Neoclassical pose, sure. The allegorical theme sings of a return to Greco-Roman ideals. But look closer – the rosy tint to her skin, the almost coy glance. Do you think they're selling war... or something else entirely? Editor: Well, it's a tobacco card, right? So maybe they're selling an escape. I hadn’t really thought of it as more than a classical trope given a…commercial makeover. Curator: Precisely! It's that tension I find compelling. She's fierce and feminine, a goddess presented in this very consumable format. There is that visual punch: A reminder that beauty, power, and even war can be packaged and sold. Now, what kind of stories does that spark in your imagination? Editor: It makes me wonder who was collecting these. I suppose it made the classics accessible in a totally new way. It gives me a whole new perspective on that period. Curator: Doesn't it, though? Always thrilling to unearth these tiny treasure troves and glimpse the stories they whisper across time.