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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century advertising with *Miss Zara, from theresses series (N203, a charming commercial color lithograph produced by Wm. S. Kimball &. in 1889. This petite card, measuring just 2 5/8 × 1 3/8 inches, captures the poised elegance of actress Miss Zara, one of many celebrated performers featured in the series. Issued as inserts in Kimball's tobacco products, these cards were collectibles designed to entice smokers and fans alike, blending portraiture with clever marketing. Chromolithography, the innovative printing technique used here, brought Miss Zara to life with vivid colors and fine details at a mass scale—affordable enough for widespread distribution. This ephemera reflects the era's obsession with theater stars, who embodied glamour and modernity for everyday audiences. Actresses like Zara were cultural icons, their images fueling a burgeoning celebrity culture amid America's Gilded Age. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights the artistry of commercial design and the intersection of commerce, entertainment, and visual culture. A tiny window into how tobacco companies turned vice into virtue through beauty and fame. (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...