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

This small card was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920, using chromolithography – a color printing technique that allowed images to be reproduced quickly and cheaply. The card features an image of a woman holding a lute and was included in packs of Duke brand cigarettes as a collectible item. The image itself is made up of layers of color, applied using lithographic stones, that give depth to the woman's dress, the details of the lute, and her overall appearance. In terms of labor, the production of these cards was highly mechanized and commercialized, with workers employed in factories to operate the printing presses and package the cigarettes. This contrasts sharply with the image of the lute, which evokes the skilled craftsmanship of instrument-making and the genteel leisure of musical performance. The card blurs the lines between art and commerce, raising questions about the relationship between mass production, consumer culture, and artistic expression.