Steamship La Champagne, French Line, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This small chromolithograph, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their cigarettes, depicts the steamship "La Champagne" of the French Line. The image's material and process are crucial to its meaning. Chromolithography, a color printing technique, allowed for mass production and widespread distribution of images like this. It speaks to the rise of consumer culture and global trade at the turn of the century, where even everyday objects like cigarette cards became vehicles for promoting travel and leisure. The card shows not only the ship but also a fashionable woman, symbolizing the aspirations of the emerging middle class. The level of detail achieved through this printing process highlights the technological advancements of the time, while also reflecting the labor involved in both the production of the image and the manufacturing of the cigarettes it advertised. By considering the material and social context of this small card, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance, blurring the lines between advertising, art, and everyday life.