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

This small card featuring Mlle. Roiz was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. As a chromolithograph, the image would have begun with a black and white photograph, transferred to a lithographic stone. Color was then added by using multiple stones, each inked with a different pigment. These were layered on top of one another to create a vibrant final image. The mass-produced nature of this card tells us a lot about its purpose. These cards, included in cigarette packs, were early forms of advertising, meant to encourage consumers to buy more. But they also tell us about the cultural values of the time, with actresses like Mlle. Roiz becoming popular figures in the public eye, their images circulated widely as objects of desire and aspiration. This represents the blurring of lines between art, commerce, and popular culture, challenging the traditional hierarchies that separate craft and fine art.