W.J.M. Barry, Hammer Throw, from World's Champions, Series 2 (N29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, featuring W.J.M. Barry, was printed by Allen & Ginter for their Cigarettes brand. Though seemingly simple, the chromolithographic process used to make it involved layering multiple colors from different stones. These stones required a master craftsman to create them, each adding a specific tone to the overall image. This was, in its time, a cutting-edge technique. Consider the context. Cigarette cards like this were designed as collectibles, inserted into packs to stiffen them and entice consumers. The rise of mass production and advertising intertwine here, with athletes like Barry becoming commercial figures. The card is now a collectible artifact. Yet in its own time, it blurred the lines between art, advertising, and everyday consumption. It reminds us that the distinction between ‘high’ art and ‘low’ craft is often less clear than we might think.