Arad, from the Dancing Girls of the World series (N185) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Arad, from the Girls of the World seriesN185)*, a delightful chromolithograph produced by William S. Kimball & Company 1889. This tiny gem, measuring just 2 11/ × 1 1/2 inches, captures exotic allure of a dancing woman, part of a popular series that celebrated global dance traditions. Issued likely as inserts in cigarette packages, these cards were collectibles that blended commerce with cultural fascination, reflecting America's growing interest in far-flung customs during the Gilded Age. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough in commercial printing, allowing vivid colors and intricate details to be mass-produced affordably. Kimball & Co., a tobacco firm, used such ephemera to entice customers, turning everyday promotion into pocket-sized art. Though ephemeral by design—meant to be traded or discarded—these prints now hold artistic value for their bold graphics and stylized depictions of women in motion. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece offers a window into Victorian-era leisure and exoticism. Imagine collectors poring over these cards, sparking dreams of distant dances amid the hum of urban life. A charming survivor of promotional history! (198 words)

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company · 1850–1950

**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...