Belle Urquhart, from the Actresses series (N190) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.
Medium
Commercial lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 1/2 × 1 5/16 in. (6.3 × 3.3 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.216.190.18
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the glittering world of 1880s theater with *Belle Urquhart, from the Actresses series (N190)*, a charming commercial lithograph produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., a prominent tobacco manufacturer. Issued in 1889, this petite card (just 2½ × 1⅜ inches) captures the poised elegance of the actress Belle Urquhart one of many glamorous performers featured in the series. These cards were tucked into cigarette packs as promotional incentives, sparking a collecting craze among enthusiasts and turning everyday smokers into avid hobbyists. Lithography, the medium here, allowed for vibrant, mas...
About the Artist
William S. Kimball & Company
**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...