Nellie and Kittie, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Curator: I am struck by how seemingly demure this piece appears at first glance. Editor: Agreed. It feels oddly sweet, even innocent...like a vintage postcard. Curator: Let's consider what's actually in the photograph: it's "Nellie and Kittie," an 1889 print originally inserted into Wm. S. Kimball & Co. cigarette packs, as part of their Actresses series. The setting seems to be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in New York. Editor: Cigarettes, huh? Not quite as innocent as I thought. It’s fascinating how a single detail can completely reframe an image. So this image was, in essence, advertising. I wonder how people regarded these performers in this era, and this object? Curator: Tobacco companies were notorious for objectifying women for mass appeal, often utilizing visual puns or veiled allusions. Even if subconscious, there are certain culturally transmitted, deeply embedded ideas present, don't you think? Editor: Precisely! And the performative aspect comes into play as well. There is an element of implied seduction with the pose. What were their interior lives beyond the stage? Their gaze makes me want to know more, and I wonder what cultural attitudes were in play during this time. It would be beneficial to understand the power dynamics at the time and to think of ways to recover and represent each woman's perspective. Curator: Definitely. There is so much concealed from our gaze now. We could examine their clothing...or lack thereof. Editor: Absolutely, how the visible undergarments and elaborate headwear juxtapose, projecting some idea of allure while complying with social norms. We have come full circle back to an earlier remark. I now have more context to reflect on its subtleties. Curator: Ultimately, such a seemingly trivial object tells us so much about commerce, entertainment, and desire at the close of the 19th century.