De Wolf Hopper Dressed as Chinese Mandarin, from the set Actors and Actresses, Second Series (N71) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This is De Wolf Hopper Dressed as Chinese Mandarin, a lithograph made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for Duke brand cigarettes. Chromolithography, the technique used here, was the first method for enabling mass production of color images. The card stock is thin, cheap, and uniform, made possible by industrial papermaking. The image has been printed using multiple stones, each carrying a different color that, when combined, create the final image. The likeness of the actor, his costume, the ornate border – all were rendered in great detail, which speaks to the degree of skill involved in their production. This was, of course, an advertisement. The purpose was to promote cigarette sales through collectible cards. This image is thus tied to wider social issues of mass production, consumerism, and the commodification of culture. Recognizing the processes and context gives us a richer understanding, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and commercial ephemera.