Steamship Bohemia, Hamburg American Packet Company, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This small card, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century, depicts the Steamship Bohemia and was included in packages of Duke brand cigarettes. The lithographic process used to create this card allowed for mass production, mirroring the rise of consumer culture and global trade that the steamship itself represents. The card’s design combines imagery of industrial progress – the ship, with a portrait of a fashionable woman, creating a desirable association between modernity, beauty, and the act of smoking. The meticulous detail, achieved through lithography, speaks to the era's fascination with realism and technological advancement. The card is not just an advertisement; it’s a small window into the aspirations and aesthetics of a society rapidly changing due to industrialization and increased global connectivity. It reminds us that even everyday objects can carry rich social and cultural meanings, challenging our traditional notions of what constitutes art.