Sir R. Arkwright, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card portraying Sir Richard Arkwright was created by Allen & Ginter for their series of cigarette cards. These cards, printed on paper, were collected and traded, reflecting the explosion of mass production and consumer culture in the late 19th century. The chromolithography process allowed for brightly colored images to be quickly and cheaply reproduced. The portrait's smooth surface belies the complex layering of inks required to achieve such detail. Each card was one of many, churned out to promote a product and encourage brand loyalty. Arkwright, fittingly, was himself an innovator of industrial processes. His improvements to textile manufacturing increased output, but also transformed labor, concentrating it in factories. The card then, is not just an innocent collectible, but a material witness to the rise of industrial capitalism. It challenges distinctions between art, advertising, and the social realities of its time.