Minnie Palmer in the Modern Costume of a Swiss Peasant, from the set Actors and Actresses, First Series (N70) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century, is from a series of cigarette cards depicting actors and actresses. These were printed using chromolithography, a multi-layered printing process allowing for vibrant colors and mass production. The card depicts Minnie Palmer in costume, a Swiss peasant dress. But, the material making is arguably more intriguing than the subject. The image is not hand-painted, but printed, and this speaks to the rise of industrial capitalism and mass production in the late 19th century. Cigarette cards like this one were produced in vast quantities, becoming a popular form of advertising and collecting. The card's small size and cheap materials belie its cultural significance as it speaks to the democratization of image-making.