Scotch, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This small chromolithograph, "Scotch," was produced around 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series of collectible cards. The image, printed on thin paper, demonstrates the efficiency of industrialized image production. The chromolithography process allowed for the cheap reproduction of colorful images, which were included in cigarette packs to stiffen the packaging and entice customers. The "Scotch" card, with its caricature of a well-dressed Scottish man, is less about fine art and more about mass consumption. Its flat, graphic style reflects its purpose as a promotional item, rather than an artwork. The card’s existence speaks to the labor involved in tobacco production, printing, and distribution, all intertwined with the social habit of smoking. By understanding its original context, we can look beyond the image and consider the card as a product of complex industrial and social forces, and of the time.