Japan, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

This small card, "Japan," was printed by Abdul Cigarettes, as part of the "Races of Mankind" series. It is a chromolithograph, a process that relies on printing with multiple colors from lithographic stones or plates. The resulting image is smooth, yet with close inspection, you can see the fine layering of inks that create the woman's complexion and the decorative background. The cards like these were not made to be precious objects, of course. They were cheap collectibles, included in cigarette packs to encourage repeat purchases. The image flattens out cultural identity into a commodity, just like the tobacco being sold. Though seemingly a world apart from traditions of fine art, these chromolithographs involved skilled labor and complex industrial processes. Appreciating the means of production allows us to reflect on the relationship between representation, labor, and consumption. These cards blur the boundaries between fine art, commercial design, and social documentation.