Plantain, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1891

This small card, "Plantain", comes from the "Fruits" series, made in the late 19th century by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands. These cards were printed using chromolithography, a process involving multiple layers of ink applied from stone or metal plates. The smooth surface and vibrant colors are characteristic of this method, enabling the mass production of collectible images. In this card, we see the image of a young girl holding a plantain, set against a backdrop of stylized banana trees. Consider that the card served as both advertising and a collectible, a byproduct of mass consumerism. The plantain is exoticized here, brought into the domestic sphere as a token of global trade. The ease of production belies the labor and resources involved in bringing both the image and the product—cigarettes—to consumers. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are embedded in a complex web of production, consumption, and cultural meaning.