Japanese Dancer, from the Dancing Women series (N186) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Japanese Dancer* (N186), a gem from the *Dancing Women* series issued by Wm.. Kimball & Co. in 1889. This petite commercial color lithograph, just 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 inches, captures a graceful figure mid-performance, embodying the exotic allure of Japanese dance. Produced by the American tobacco company, it was likely distributed as a collectible insert in cigarette packages, enticing smokers with its delicate beauty. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a revolutionary printing technique of the era, allowing vivid, multi-layered colors on a mass scale—perfect for eye-catching ephemera. Amid the Japonisme craze sweeping Western art, inspired by Japan's opening to trade after centuries of isolation, Kimball's series reflected a cultural fascination with Eastern aesthetics. These cards blended commercial savvy with artistic flair, turning everyday products into coveted keepsakes. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print highlights the overlooked artistry of advertising. It invites us to appreciate how dance, femininity, and global exchange danced across tobacco wrappers, bridging commerce and culture in Gilded Age America.

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...