Swiss Dancer, from the Dancing Women series (N186) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century advertising with *Swiss Dancer*, a charming chromolithograph from the *Dancing Women* seriesN186), produced by Wm. S. & Co. in 1889. This petite print, measuring just 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 inches, captures a graceful female figure in traditional Swiss attire, mid-twirl with skirts flaring and arms elegantly raised. Issued as collectible ephemera—likely a trade card or insert for Kimball's cigars—it reflects the era's fascination with exotic dances and folk costumes, blending cultural curiosity with commercial appeal. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing mass production of vivid, multi-colored images from stone plates, making art accessible beyond elite galleries. Kimball, a Rochester-based tobacco firm, used such cards to entice collectors, turning everyday purchases into treasures. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how ephemera preserved snapshots of popular culture, from ballet inspirations to national stereotypes. Today, *Swiss Dancer* evokes the Gilded Age's playful escapism, where women dancers symbolized both grace and allure in a rapidly industrializing America. A delightful glimpse into advertising's artistic side!

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...