Stewart, from the Great Generals series (N15) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This is a lithograph card of General Stewart, printed by Allen & Ginter in the late 19th century as part of a series for cigarette brands. The process of lithography is crucial here. It allowed for mass production of colorful images. The flat printing technique used oily and waxy materials applied to a smooth surface that was then treated to selectively repel ink, producing images. This was ideal for cheap commercial applications, like these cards. The card’s material is thin and relatively ephemeral, intended to be collected and traded, and enticing you to buy more cigarettes. The company was based in Richmond, Virginia, suggesting a direct link between tobacco production and the aesthetics of colonialism. The image valorizes military conquest, neatly packaged for consumer pleasure. Understanding the card means understanding the system that produced it: a convergence of labor, consumption, and imperial ambition.