Charles Vane, Defying the Governor, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This image of Charles Vane, defying the governor, was mass-produced by the Allen & Ginter company, as part of a series of collectible cards included in packs of cigarettes. This chromolithograph, a color printing technique, was cutting-edge technology at the time. A separate stone or plate was used for each color, requiring a great deal of skilled labor to produce these images quickly and cheaply. The very point of these cards was to be ephemeral, but they also brought visual culture into everyday life. The image shows the pirate Charles Vane. The choice of subject matter links the thrill of the high seas with the addictive pleasures of tobacco consumption. Allen & Ginter commodified the popular image of the pirate. By considering the convergence of image, industrial production, and popular culture, we can think about how it reflects and shapes our understanding of labor, politics, and consumption. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.