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

Art Historical Context

Step into the glittering world of 1880s theater with *Grace Raven, from the Actresses series (N203)*, a vibrant commercial color lithograph produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., a prominent tobacco company. Issued in 1889, this petite card (just 2 5/8 × 1 3/8 inches) captures the poised elegance of Grace Raven, a celebrated actress of the era, as part of a popular series that traded celebrity portraits for brand loyalty. These ephemera were tucked into cigarette packs, sparking a collecting frenzy among enthusiasts who prized them like modern trading cards. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough in mass printing, layering colors with precision to mimic paintings on a tiny scale. Kimball's series exemplified this technique's commercial power, turning advertising into affordable art that brought stage stars into everyday pockets. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it highlights how 19th-century print culture democratized portraiture. Culturally, these cards reflected America's infatuation with vaudeville and theater divas, elevating actresses as icons of beauty and talent. Grace Raven's likeness embodies that allure, offering a window into Gilded Age glamour and the savvy marketing that blurred lines between entertainment, commerce, and collecting.

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...