A.J. Cassatt, from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22a) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This card depicting A.J. Cassatt, from the Racing Colors of the World series, was produced for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, using industrial printing techniques. These chromolithographic cards, like many of the era, were made to stiffen cigarette packs, but they quickly became collected, revealing a slice of popular culture at the time. The image is printed on thin paper stock. The surface has a slightly raised texture, a result of the many layers of ink laid down to create its colorful finish. Looking closely, you can see the subtle variations in color, which indicate a labor-intensive printing process, with each color applied separately. Although mass-produced, these cards bear witness to both a fascination with leisure, like horse racing, and the rise of consumer culture, where even everyday items were adorned with images, reflecting the intertwining of art, industry, and commerce. Examining this card reminds us that value is not just in the image, but also in the physical object itself, connecting to social context and ways of making.