Daisy Murdock, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century advertising with *Daisy Murdock, the Actresses series (203)*, a charming commercial color lithograph produced William S. Kimball & in 1889. This tiny portrait (just 2 5/8 × 1 3/8 inches) captures the allure of Daisy Murdock, a popular actress of the era, as part of a collectible series issued by the tobacco firm. Such ephemera—often tucked into cigarette packs—were wildly popular promotional items, blending celebrity culture with consumer marketing during the Gilded Age. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing by layering vibrant colors from stone plates, allowing affordable, eye-catching reproductions that mimicked fine art. Kimball's Actresses series exemplified this technique, turning theater stars into household icons and fueling a craze for trading cards among collectors. Women like Murdock embodied the era's fascination with stage glamour, bridging entertainment and commerce. Today, this gem from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection highlights how everyday objects preserved cultural snapshots, offering a window into Victorian America's obsession with fame and femininity. A delightful reminder of ephemera's enduring appeal!

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...