Alois Senefelder, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is Alois Senefelder, a printer’s sample for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, part of the World's Inventors souvenir album. Senefelder, the inventor of lithography, is portrayed with an intentional gaze. His portrait is simple, but it’s the act of memorializing him that carries weight. Throughout history, the act of portraiture has evolved into a powerful symbol of legacy, and the desire to immortalize individuals has roots in ancient funerary practices. We see echoes of this impulse in Egyptian sarcophagi, Roman busts, and even modern-day photography. The need to capture and preserve a likeness speaks to our deep-seated fear of oblivion. Just as the ancients sought immortality through elaborate burial rituals, so too does this image serve as a form of symbolic preservation. Senefelder's image becomes more than just a commercial token, it touches something profound in the collective psyche. The enduring power of portraiture lies in its ability to engage viewers on an emotional level, reminding us of our shared humanity and the universal desire to leave a lasting mark.