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

Curator: Alright, let’s dive into this curious artifact. What we have here is "Miss Zara," from the Actresses series, printed around 1889 by William S. Kimball & Co., most likely as part of a cigarette card set. It’s a sepia toned image that combines drawing, print, and photography, found here at the Met. What strikes you about it initially? Editor: You know, it’s that little smirk, that confident little curl of her lip. There's a whole story there! I immediately get this vaudeville vibe – cheeky, maybe a touch… scandalous for its time? It is really just an advertising card… but her gaze draws you in! Curator: Indeed! It’s fascinating how these promotional images tap into larger cultural narratives, and specifically, emerging concepts of feminine sensuality in that period. What do you make of the setting, then? The backdrop is vaguely tropical or exotic... juxtaposed against her more, well, *uncovered* appearance. Editor: Well, clearly it's not aiming for strict realism. It’s playing with fantasy, creating a bit of an "other" world, and this "Zara" is front and center to this strange dreamscape. See, it makes the product seem kind of exotic itself? Almost selling an *experience*, you know? This is not just paper...but a mini theatre for your pack of cigarettes! Curator: Precisely! And if we consider the Formal elements...the contrast between the soft textures of her costume versus the implied harshness of that rocky landscape contributes to the card's aesthetic tension...it *creates* that tension in order to capture and maintain a viewer’s gaze. Even the plant behind her isn't identifiable, right? Everything has to become part of her mystique. Editor: You are correct on the gaze! It does have me in a sort of thought-loop! Overall it is a smart and rather pretty work. Its also, again...a piece of advertising, imagine that! What do you take away from this "Miss Zara" situation? Curator: It underscores how commercial art can function as a window into cultural attitudes of the past. It hints at desires, aspirations, and changing perceptions... it captures moments! Editor: Definitely captured this moment. It is almost like stepping back in time in a quirky little photograph. And, of course, it will have me searching to find other art of the past too, of all forms! I suppose this image succeeded... at capturing a gaze!