Cachucha, from National Dances (N225, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small chromolithograph, "Cachucha," was mass-produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item. Lithography, a printmaking technique, relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water. A design is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treated with chemicals so that only the drawn areas will hold ink. The image is then transferred to paper, allowing for the creation of numerous identical prints. In this case, the subject, a Spanish dancer, is rendered in vibrant colors, which would have been achieved through the use of multiple printing stones, each applying a different color to the final image. The texture of the paper and the slight blurring of the image are indicative of the speed and volume at which these cards were produced. Such cards offered a small luxury to consumers, while also promoting brand loyalty. They reflect the rise of consumer culture and the increasing importance of advertising in the late 19th century. What was once considered ‘low art’ can tell us much about the society that consumed it.