Pet Calf, from the Household Pets series (N194) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1891

This chromolithograph, printed by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., is from a series of collectible cards included in packages of tobacco. Here, the texture is subtle, achieved through lithography, a printing technique that allows for soft gradations of color. It's a far cry from the bold graphics we often associate with advertising. The paper is thin, mass-produced. But the image is charming: a young woman in a peasant-style dress, embracing her calf. These cards reflect a specific moment in the history of both printmaking and capitalism. Advances in industrial printing made images like these widely available, and they became a popular form of advertising. Yet they also offer a glimpse into the era's social values. The scene idealizes rural life, and the calf suggests themes of pastoral innocence and agricultural bounty. The mass production of images like this democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience. By considering the materials and context of such an artwork, we can appreciate its broader cultural significance, questioning the traditional hierarchies between fine art and everyday life.