Moorish 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 *Moorish Dancer* from the *Dancing Women* series (N186), a charming commercial color lithograph produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. This petite print, measuring just 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 inches, captures an exoticized figure in flowing attire, evoking the era's fascination with Orientalism—a popular artistic motif inspired by Middle Eastern and North African cultures. Issued as part of a collectible tobacco trade card series, it reflects how companies like Kimball, a Rochester-based cigarette manufacturer, used eye-catching imagery to promote their products amid the booming trade card craze of the 1880s and 1890s. Color lithography, the medium here, was revolutionary for its ability to reproduce vivid hues and intricate details affordably on a mass scale, making art accessible beyond elite galleries. These ephemera prints blended commercial savvy with artistic flair, often drawing from contemporary theater, world's fairs, and romanticized depictions of dancers—women portrayed as graceful, alluring performers. The "Moorish" theme taps into Western fantasies of the exotic "Other," highlighting cultural exchanges (and appropriations) during Europe's colonial peak. Today, this gem resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of American prints and cards gifted by the avid collector. It offers a window into everyday visual culture, reminding us how art danced into homes via marketing magic.

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...