Kittie Chase, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century theater with *Kittie Chase, the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes a diminutive albumen photograph produced by Goodwin & Company around 1886–90. This tiny card—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—was one of many inserted into cigarette packs as collectible trade cards, blending advertising savvy with celebrity culture. Goodwin & Company, a leading firm, capitalized on the era's theater craze, featuring stars like Kittie Chase to entice smokers and fans alike. The portrait captures Chase, a prominent actress, in a striking pose evoking drama and perhaps frontier flair, complete with firearms—a nod to the bold, multifaceted roles women performers embraced amid evolving gender norms. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts for sharp, luminous detail, were ideal for these mass-produced ephemera, preserving fleeting stardom in everyday pockets. Today, this gem from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection highlights the intersection of commerce, photography, and popular entertainment. Burdick's vast gift transformed the Met's holdings in prints and ephemera, offering a window into how everyday objects immortalized cultural icons like Chase. A testament to Victorian-era collecting fever!

About the Artist

Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950

**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...