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

Curator: So, here we have "Miss Wentworth, from the Actresses series," dating back to 1889. It was issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as a promotional item, originally distributed with their cigarettes. Editor: My first thought? It's fantastically cheeky! There's a real swagger to her pose, like she's completely in on some marvelous joke. Curator: Indeed. These were essentially trade cards, but with an artistic twist. Photography, coupled with printmaking, allowed for mass production and distribution, effectively democratizing access to portraiture in a way. We should not oversee that it reflects, and, in the same way, also produces its historical and cultural context! Editor: It does feel rebellious in a way, breaking the conventions of formal portraiture. The backdrop even looks hand-painted. I'm reminded of old theatrical sets. It creates an amazing artifice! Curator: The photograph certainly mimics painted portraits; her direct gaze meets that of the viewer and implicates a dialogue. And the cards would circulate through the economy, subtly intertwining commodity and image production, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. And consider the performative aspect! An actress photographed as an actress, inhabiting a role, then reproduced and disseminated. It adds another layer to the fabrication, which only amplifies her sense of fun! I feel like she winks! Curator: The photograph is presented as part of a series... The cigarette card is no longer just an isolated portrait but a building block of the commercial narrative. Editor: It's remarkable how much personality comes across, even within such a constrained format. It makes me think about the blurred lines between performance, persona, and promotion. Curator: A perfect meeting point, perhaps, where materiality meets the magic. Editor: Exactly. I might have to track down some old cigarette cards to learn more about that era. What a fascinating conversation starter!