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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Diana, from the Actresses seriesN203)*, a diminutive commercial color lithograph by William S. Kimball & Company in 188. Measuring just 2 5/8 × 1 3/8 inches, this tiny gem was designed as a collectible insert, likely tucked into cigarette packs to entice smokers and spark a collecting craze. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough printing technique, allowed for vivid, multi-layered colors on inexpensive paper, transforming everyday ephemera into eye-catching art. Part of the celebrated Actresses series, this portrait captures the allure of late Victorian theater stars, reflecting America's growing fascination with female performers during the Gilded Age. Actresses like "Diana" embodied glamour and independence, their images boosting tobacco sales while fueling pop culture fandom. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American prints gifted by the legendary card collector—this piece highlights how commercial lithography democratized portraiture, blending commerce, celebrity, and craftsmanship in a single, pocket-sized marvel.

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...