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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Boxing, from the Pretty Athletes series (N196)*, a charming commercial color lithograph produced in 1889 by Julius Bien & Co. for William S. Kimball & Co., a tobacco manufacturer. Measuring just 3 3/4 × 2 1/2 inches, this petite print was designed as a collectible trade card, tucked into cigarette packages to entice buyers and spark trading among enthusiasts. Part of the "Pretty Athletes" series, it playfully depicts women engaged in boxing, blending athletic prowess with feminine allure—a bold nod to the era's growing fascination with women's sports. Chromolithography, the medium's colorful technique, allowed Julius Bien & Co.—renowned printers of the time—to layer vivid hues with precision, capturing dynamic poses and period attire on a tiny scale. Issued during a period when women's participation in "masculine" activities like boxing was rare and often sensationalized, this ephemera reflects cultural shifts toward gender norms while promoting consumerism. Today, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, celebrating everyday artifacts as windows into history. Fun fact: These cards fueled a collecting craze, preserving glimpses of Victorian-era whimsy and empowerment in one punchy package!

About the Artist

Julius Bien & Co.|William S. Kimball & Company ( |American) · |1826 – |1909

|American (born Germany), Naumberg 1826–1909 United States