Tightrope Walking, from the Pretty Athletes series (N196) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Curator: This curious print, dating to 1889, is titled "Tightrope Walking, from the Pretty Athletes series," and it was issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Editor: There's something instantly charming about this image; it exudes an almost fragile delicacy despite depicting a very athletic subject. The colours are soft and muted, almost like a faded photograph. Curator: Indeed. These cards were, in fact, promotional items included with Kimball cigarettes. The “Pretty Athletes” series reflected the societal obsession with both the ideal of feminine beauty and burgeoning ideas of women in sport and public life, an intersection that offered companies fertile ground for cultural marketing. Editor: It's fascinating to see how colour is used to define the form; the shading on her legs and the cape gives a wonderful sense of depth, playing off the flat plane of the striped costume. Do you think the medium– coloured pencil and print– played a role in this effect? Curator: Certainly. Kimball would have wanted an image both appealing and cheap to reproduce on a massive scale, making it more important how the image resonated with potential consumers than the artwork's unique artistic expression. Editor: There's also an interesting tension between the near-caricature of her face and the otherwise graceful composition. It's not a harsh or ugly image, but the features are… accentuated. Curator: The hint of caricature speaks to shifting social perceptions of women's roles. Such prints both celebrated and gently mocked female athleticism as new arenas for female public visibility took shape. These objects worked both to advance a cause while tamping down more disruptive social forces. Editor: The perspective, the shading, and the overall colour scheme produce a really appealing artwork despite what could be seen as slightly problematic content in contemporary terms. Curator: Yes, engaging with historical marketing campaigns allows us a richer appreciation for the complex dance between commercial ambition and evolving social narratives. Editor: I appreciate your shedding light on the circumstances that helped this rather striking tightrope walker arrive on the scene!