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

Curator: This is a trade card featuring Charlotte Tittell, a prominent actress from the late 19th century. It was produced around 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series promoting their cigarettes. Editor: The sepia tone and compact size make it feel quite intimate, almost like finding a vintage photograph in someone's attic. The upward glance in her eyes creates such a wistful mood; what do you make of it? Curator: These cards were distributed with cigarette packs to encourage collecting, very different from the marketing we see today, although, some influencers do much the same thing. Actresses and other celebrities endorsed products, creating a cultural landscape that normalized the association between fame and commerce. Editor: It’s funny to think her image was circulating alongside cigarettes! Yet there's a timeless quality to her gaze. It’s striking how the pearls and fur frame her; you know it evokes something very "Gatsby-esque" for me. Does this connect to what was being presented onstage at that moment in theatrical history? Curator: Absolutely. Her image spoke to the evolving role of women in society. Actresses, like Charlotte, commanded considerable public attention. Kimball tapped into the public’s fascination with celebrity. These trade cards helped spread those images far beyond the theatre. Editor: It feels almost rebellious to think of this demure image used to sell a sinful pleasure! What I truly appreciate, though, is how photography at that time froze a persona that, in turn, sparks my current ideas about gender performance and identity. She seems trapped in her amber cigarette purgatory. Curator: It’s fascinating how these mass-produced images offered a glimpse into the glamorous lives of actresses, influencing both popular tastes and social perceptions of femininity. Editor: Seeing this little card reminds us of our impulse to collect stories. I'm holding that beautiful yet tragic vision she cast, somewhere in between that fur collar, looking up to... something. Thank you.