Portrait, from the Women's Portraits series (N198) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

This charming *Portrait* from the Women's Portraits series (198), issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889, the vibrant world of late 19th commercial ephemera. Produced as a small color lithograph—measuring just 3¼ × 2⅞ inches—these cards were likely tucked into cigarette packages by the Rochester, New York-based tobacco firm, serving as collectible inserts to entice smokers and spark trading among enthusiasts. Credited to William S. Kimball & Company with lithography by William Wellstood, it captures the era's fascination with elegant female portraits, reflecting Victorian ideals of beauty and femininity. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing mass-produced prints with rich, layered colors mimicking paintings at low cost. This innovation democratized art, turning everyday consumers into accidental collectors. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of such printed Americana gifted in 1948—this piece highlights how commerce fueled popular culture, blending advertising savvy with artistic appeal. Today, it offers a window into Gilded Age marketing and gender representation, reminding us how tiny artifacts preserved big cultural moments. (198 words)

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company|William Wellstood · 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...