Della Ferrell, Champion Girl Rider, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 2) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

Editor: This is Della Ferrell, Champion Girl Rider, made around 1887 by W.S. Kimball & Co. It’s a small, charming print, a coloured-pencil drawing, I think, meant to be part of a series. There’s something striking about the contrast between the portrait above and the action scene below. What draws your eye, initially? Curator: The doubled image speaks volumes, doesn’t it? We see both the iconic individual and the symbol of her triumph. The upper portrait, almost ethereal, reminds us of classical cameos, emblems of status. Note how it presents a calm face, carefully framed. Editor: And the riding scene below? Curator: It serves as an active complement. Observe the horse rearing – a dynamic symbol of power and control, echoing the rider's own skill. The composition tells a story of not only athleticism, but societal expectations, perhaps even female empowerment during that era. Editor: I hadn’t thought about that, the empowerment angle. Were these images common? Curator: Tobacco cards, like this, became cultural artifacts. Consider them as tiny mirrors reflecting – and perhaps shaping – popular ideals. They broadcast who and what society celebrated. Who was visible? Who was deemed worthy of commemoration? They help to answer these questions, if you interpret the symbolic weight carried by this "champion." Editor: So, it’s not just about sports; it's a document of social values. Curator: Exactly. Even the choice of colours carries weight. Soft pastels project refinement and respectability, aligning her athleticism with accepted norms. Does it make you think differently about the artwork? Editor: It does. Seeing the image within that broader cultural framework really adds depth. I initially just saw a pretty drawing! Curator: Art often holds encoded stories, waiting to be discovered! And seeing these symbols helps to discover how things are similar and different from modern social mores and expressions.