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

This small card featuring Miss Boulard was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of an “Actresses” series, likely in the late 19th century. Such cards were commonly included in cigarette packs as promotional items. The image itself provides a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time. Actresses, like Miss Boulard, were becoming increasingly popular figures, and their images were used to market a variety of consumer products. Note the performative quality of the image; the constructed pose and theatrical costume situate this card within a culture of celebrity and spectacle. The commodification of actresses' images reflects the growing commercialization of leisure and entertainment. To fully understand this image, we might research the Kimball company's marketing strategies or the careers of actresses like Miss Boulard. It's through such investigation that we can see the power of images to reflect and shape social values.