Bass Viol, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

"Bass Viol" is a chromolithograph card from the "Musical Instruments" series produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in 1888. It depicts a woman in a floral dress holding a bass viol. These cards were given away with packs of Duke brand cigarettes, contributing to the rise of cigarette collecting in the late 19th century. The artwork is part of a larger collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcasing the popularity of these collectible cards as well as the evolving relationship between advertising and art.