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

This is a photograph of Miss Sangally, a ballet dancer, from a series of cigarette cards produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies used these cards as a marketing strategy. They offered miniature portraits of actresses to promote their products, tapping into the public's fascination with the stage. This was a time when new forms of mass media and consumer culture were emerging, changing social life. It is interesting to consider how images like this one were circulated and consumed. The cards promoted both tobacco and a certain image of feminine beauty. Actresses like Miss Sangally were becoming celebrities, but their images were also being used to sell products. This raises questions about the relationship between art, commerce, and the construction of social identities. Art historians can analyze these images in terms of the economic and cultural forces at play in America at the time. Studying ephemera like cigarette cards can provide valuable insights into the social history of art and visual culture.