Coney Island, from the Beautiful Bathers series (N192) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century American leisure with *Coney Island* from the *Beautiful Bathers* series (N192), a charming commercial color lithograph issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. Produced by lithographer Julius Bien and the tobacco company, this petite print (just 3 3/4 × 2 1/2 inches) captures the allure of Coney Island, New York's iconic beach resort that drew crowds for sun, sea, and spectacle during the Gilded Age. Featuring graceful profiles of women in bathing attire, it reflects the era's fascination with emerging beach culture and feminine beauty, often idealized in promotional imagery. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing vivid, multi-color prints to be mass-produced affordably—perfect for Kimball's cigarette packs as collectible inserts. These "trade cards" or tobacco premiums enticed smokers and sparked a collecting craze, blending advertising savvy with artistry. Bien's precise work highlights the series' delicate lines and soft hues, evoking a dreamy seaside escape. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera gem offers a window into Victorian America's playful side, where commerce met coastal glamour. A delightful snapshot of history in your pocket!

About the Artist

Julius Bien|William S. Kimball & Company (American, Swiss|American) · 1814 |1826 –1896 |1909

American, born Switzerland, 1814/15–1896|American (born Germany), Naumberg 1826–1909 United States