"Watch him kick it," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

This small card, printed by W. Duke Sons & Co., was made to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. The chromolithographic process used here allowed for mass production, aligning perfectly with the rapid industrialization of the late 19th century. Look closely, and you’ll see the printmaking has rendered the scene vividly, using flat color blocks. This adds a unique visual texture, distinct from painting. The card stock itself also plays a role. Inexpensive and readily available, it speaks volumes about the card’s purpose: disposable advertising. But consider the image itself. A boy is about to kick a hat off a man’s head; a prank in plain sight. The ‘labor’ here is mischief. The card reveals how leisure and everyday life were increasingly commodified, packaged, and sold to consumers. So, next time you reach for your favorite brand, remember this little piece of printed ephemera, and how it connects art, industry, and the everyday.