From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1886

This small chromolithograph, made by Allen & Ginter, was one of a collectible series included in packs of Virginia Brights cigarettes. Printed on thin card stock using multiple colors, the image depicts a child dressed in an elaborate costume. The smoothness of the card belies the complex labor involved in its production. The chromolithography process required skilled artisans to create separate lithographic stones for each color, layering them precisely to achieve the final image. This division of labor, combined with the mass production of cigarettes, reflects the industrial capitalism of the late 19th century. These cards, seemingly innocent, served as promotional tools, subtly linking childhood innocence with the addictive consumption of tobacco. The very act of collecting these cards, driven by consumer desire, further fueled the cycle of production and consumption. By considering the materials, processes, and social context of this small card, we can see how it embodies the complex relationship between art, commerce, and the shaping of consumer culture.