Freesland, 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 *Freesland, from the Dancing Girls of the World series (N185)*, a commercial color lithograph produced by Wm. S. & Co. in 1889. This petite print, measuring just 2 11/16 × 1 1/2 inches, captures a dancer from Friesland—likely evoking the traditional folk costumes and lively steps of this Dutch region. Part of a popular series (N185 in collector catalogs), it celebrates women dancers from around the globe, blending exotic allure with commercial appeal. Issued by the American tobacco company Wm. S. Kimball & Co., these cards were premium inserts bundled with cigarettes or chewing tobacco, a clever marketing tactic in the Gilded Age. Collectors like Jefferson R. Burdick amassed thousands, forming the core of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's renowned holdings in prints and ephemera. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough technique, enabled vivid colors and intricate details through multiple stone-printing layers, making high-quality images affordable for mass distribution. Culturally, the series reflects Victorian fascination with global femininity and dance, romanticizing "dancing girls" as symbols of cultural diversity. Today, it offers a window into consumer culture's artistry, where everyday commerce met colorful lithography to delight and promote. (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...