Portrait of woman, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small portrait of a woman was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of their 'Novelties' series. It’s printed on card, using a chromolithographic process. That's a type of color printing that relies on a series of lithographic stones, one for each color. The image, like others in the series, was designed to be collected and traded, capitalizing on the rising popularity of consumer culture at the time. The smooth surface of the card stock, and the precision of the printing, give the image a crisp, mass-produced feel. Consider the amount of labor that went into creating these cards. From the artists who designed the images, to the workers who operated the printing presses, this small token is a product of industrialization and mass consumption. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly innocuous objects are deeply intertwined with the social and economic forces of their time. So, next time you light up, think about the art that came with it!