Card Number 12, cut-out from banner advertising the Opera Gloves series (G29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This small lithograph was created by Allen and Ginter in the United States as a promotional card for Opera Gloves Cigarettes, part of a series of collectible cards inserted into cigarette packs. The image depicts a gloved hand holding a portrait of a fashionable woman. It's a curious juxtaposition: the glove, typically a symbol of high society and feminine elegance, here becomes a kind of advertisement, commodifying those very ideals. The numbered series hinted at the variety of fashionable choices available, both in gloves and, by implication, in the lifestyles of the consumers. Cards like this reflect the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century, with tobacco companies using art to enhance their brand image. What was the effect of this on the art world? As social historians, we investigate such questions, using sources like company records and period advertising, helping us understand the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.