Polo, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This chromolithograph, Polo, from the Games and Sports series, was made by Goodwin & Company around the late 19th century, as an advertisement within a cigarette pack. The card’s small size speaks to the industrial processes through which it was produced. The image shows a portrait of a woman on one side, and a polo match on the other. The surface is flat, but the color is vibrant, achieved through the layering of ink. As a product of chromolithography, this card could be mass-produced and widely distributed, a direct reflection of the rise of consumer culture and the increasing availability of goods. These cards were designed to be collected, traded, and enjoyed, but their creation was intertwined with the rise of industrial capitalism and the exploitation of labor. Understanding the social context of this image helps us to appreciate its full meaning, as a small piece of art, that reflects wider economic and cultural forces at play.