The Pitcher, "Just watch me twist it," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

This chromolithograph was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco in the late 19th century. The technique of chromolithography allowed for the mass production of colorful images. This card would have been printed on a large sheet alongside many others, with the division of labor divided among different workers. Here, we see a barefoot boy pitching a baseball. The image, though seemingly innocent, is embedded in the politics of labor and consumption. The tobacco industry relied heavily on cheap labor, often exploiting poor and working-class individuals. The baseball card itself becomes a commodity, distributed to encourage consumption of tobacco products. The print’s flat, bright colors belie the labor involved in the making of the print, and in the tobacco it advertises. By understanding its materials, production, and cultural context, we gain insight into the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.