Louis XVth 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 *Louis XVth Dancer* from the *Dancing Women* series (N186), a charming commercial color lithograph produced by William S. Kimball & Company in 1889. This petite print (just 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 inches) captures a graceful dancer evoking the opulent style of France's Louis XV era (1715–1774), with her flowing skirts and poised elegance. Issued as part of a popular cigarette card series by the American tobacco firm, these ephemera were collectibles tucked into tobacco products, sparking a craze among enthusiasts for their beauty and variety. The artwork showcases the artistry of chromolithography, a revolutionary color printing technique that allowed mass production of vivid, multi-hued images from stone plates. This method democratized fine art, bringing luxurious scenes of dancers—symbols of grace, exoticism, and femininity—to everyday Victorians. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it highlights how commercial prints bridged high art and popular culture, reflecting late 19th-century obsessions with dance and historical romanticism. Today, this tiny treasure reminds us of ephemera's enduring allure, transforming disposable ads into museum gems that preserve slices of social history.

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...