Italian, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This small lithograph was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late nineteenth century as a promotional item. These cards, printed in vast quantities, were essentially advertisements masquerading as collectibles, and speak volumes about the industrialization of image-making. The chromolithographic process allowed for the mass production of colorful images. The texture of the card itself, thin and slightly glossy, speaks to its function as a disposable item, meant to be collected but not necessarily treasured. The subject matter – a stereotypical portrayal of an Italian man – reflects the era’s attitudes towards immigration and national identity. Consider the social context: tobacco companies were powerful players in the global economy, and these cards were a small but significant part of their marketing machine. By understanding the materials and the making process, we can see this card not just as a piece of ephemera, but as a window into the social and economic forces of its time.