H.G. Crocker, Cyclist, from World's Champions, Series 2 (N29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card featuring cyclist H.G. Crocker was produced by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company, as part of a series. It's made using chromolithography, a color printing technique allowing for mass production. Notice how the image is built up from layers of ink, creating a soft, almost hazy effect. This process was revolutionary at the time, enabling businesses to include attractive visuals with their products to increase sales. The card’s texture, smooth and slightly glossy, speaks to its function as a collectible, meant to be traded and admired. Chromolithography democratized image-making, bringing color and art into everyday life, and connecting it directly to the burgeoning culture of consumerism. While we often think of art as existing apart from commerce, objects like these remind us of the deep ties between aesthetics, industry, and the stories we tell about ourselves. They blur the lines between art, advertising, and social history.