Bettina, from the Ballet Queens series (N182) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Curator: Here we have a charming print called "Bettina, from the Ballet Queens series" by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., dating back to 1889. It's part of the collection here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Well, my first impression is a definite burst of late 19th-century whimsy. The colors are so saturated, almost theatrical! And the overall composition is just so lighthearted. I love it! Curator: Indeed! This belongs to a series of "trade cards" that were popular at the time, often included in cigarette packs. They functioned as collectables and miniature artworks that popularized figures like ballet dancers. Note the gouache and colored pencil—common media that suggest its origin in reproductive printmaking, and the influence of art nouveau aesthetics are obvious here. Editor: Ah, that explains the vibrant colours. It reminds me a bit of Toulouse-Lautrec's posters, but on a much smaller scale and perhaps aimed at a broader audience. There's something delightfully democratic about these readily-accessible images, don't you think? I mean, who wouldn't want a pocket-sized ballerina? Curator: Precisely! Ballet, especially in that era, embodied certain aspirational qualities--beauty, discipline, performance. Circulating such images made these qualities widely accessible, shaping popular perceptions and desires, even among those who may have never attended a live performance. And consider the subtle encoding of femininity: delicate ornamentation and decorative elements. Editor: It is kind of fascinating to think of her in pockets everywhere! I keep coming back to the fact this was meant to be discarded after opening. Such artistry—and such planned obsolescence! Curator: It speaks to the ephemeral nature of celebrity and image, even then. Now, when such material lives eternally through digital media. Food for thought, isn’t it? Editor: It is. Thanks, that's a lovely, colourful paradox to ponder.