Grotesque Dancer, from the Dancing Women series (N186) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 in. (6.9 × 3.7 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
63.350.216.186.12
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Grotesque Dancer* the *Dancing Women* series (N186), charming commercial color lithograph produced by Wm. S. & Co. in 1889. This tiny gem, measuring just 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 inches, was likely an insert card tucked into cigarette packs, part of a popular trend where tobacco companies like Kimball distributed collectible cards to entice buyers and fuel a burgeoning hobby among enthusiasts. Printed using chromolithography—a revolutionary technique that layered vibrant colors through multiple stone plates—this ephemera exemplifies the ar...
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...