Norway, from the Types of All Nations series (N24) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This chromolithograph card of a Norwegian woman comes from a series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Printed on a small piece of cardstock, it depicts a woman in traditional dress. The visual impact relies on the printing process, chromolithography, which allowed for mass production of colourful images. A separate lithographic stone was used for each color, and the image was built up layer by layer. This process, while industrial, required skilled artisans to execute precisely. The card's small size speaks to its function: it was included in cigarette packs both to stiffen the packaging and to entice customers. The image participates in a visual economy typical of its time, exoticizing national identities for commercial purposes. What appears as a simple collectible is actually a complex intersection of industrial production, artistic skill, and consumer culture. It shows us how much work goes into the making of even seemingly disposable images.