Monocle and Eye (brown), from Jocular Ocular series (N221) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small lithograph, "Monocle and Eye," was made in 1869 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, as part of a promotional series. These cards were printed on paper, using lithography, a technique that allowed for mass production of colorful images. The image, printed in tones of brown, orange, and green, is striking for its realism and clarity, achieved through the printing process. Kinney Brothers were clearly attuned to the value of consumer culture, and deployed advanced techniques of mass production to create these images. Consider the amount of labor that went into creating these cards. The design, the printing, the cutting, and the packaging were all human tasks, undertaken in service of a global industry. Next time you light up, think about the human hands that brought you that pleasure. This tiny card reminds us of the often-overlooked connection between art, industry, and everyday life, blurring the lines between high art and the commercial sphere.