Oceanica, from the Types of All Nations series (N24) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is “Oceania,” one of a series of collectible cards issued by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette manufacturer, as a marketing ploy. These cards, printed on paper, were made using chromolithography, a technique that allowed for mass production of colorful images. The texture of the card is smooth but it’s covered with tiny dots, a result of the printing process that could be seen as a precursor to digital pixilation. The portrait is framed by decorative borders, adding to its collectable appeal. The image is of a woman, presumably from Oceania, adorned with striped textiles and feather earrings. The textiles reflect indigenous craft traditions, but their integration into a commercial product speaks to complex global networks of labor, politics, and consumption. Although these cards were created through industrial processes, the images they portray connect to histories of creative practice beyond fine art. Considering materials, making, and context allows us to see how commercial objects can carry diverse cultural meanings, challenging any clear divide between art, craft, and commodity.