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

This carte-de-visite of Kate Wart was mass-produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. for insertion in cigarette packs. The albumen print, a photographic process popularized in the 19th century, was an inexpensive method of reproducing images on a paper support. Rather than presenting a fine art object, this card reflects the rise of consumer culture and the use of celebrity imagery to market products. Its cheap materials speak volumes about its intended purpose. These cards were not made to last. The albumen print is thin, the cardboard flimsy. The value resided in the ephemeral pleasure of collecting, trading, and discarding. Kimball & Co.’s assembly line production highlights a period of industrial expansion. The card represents a shift from handmade uniqueness to the mass-produced, where images of actresses and performers were used as bait to lure consumers. Looking at this object invites us to reflect on the social dynamics of labor, politics, and consumption in the late 19th century, and how these have impacted what we consider to be art today.