The Order of the Netherlands Lion of Holland, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a chromolithograph of The Order of the Netherlands Lion of Holland, made by Allen & Ginter for their series of cigarette cards. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as collectibles, but also stiffened the packs and advertised the brand. The company was one of the first to mass-produce cigarettes and, like many others, it used images of awards and decorations to add a sense of luxury and prestige to their brand. It also reflected a general culture of collecting and display that was becoming popular in the late 19th century, particularly among the middle classes. The mass production of images went hand in hand with the growth of advertising. To fully understand the visual culture of this time, we can research the history of advertising, consumerism, and the development of print technologies. These resources help us understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production, and the public role of art.