King of Bavaria, from World's Sovereigns series (N34) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This lithograph of the King of Bavaria was made by Allen and Ginter, an American cigarette company, as part of a series called "World's Sovereigns." While seemingly straightforward, this card opens a window into the social and economic landscape of late 19th-century America. The Gilded Age saw an unprecedented rise in industrial production and consumer culture, creating a new kind of mass media landscape. Cigarette cards such as this one were collected by the smoking public. Consider the image's visual codes. The King's portrait, coupled with the Bavarian coat of arms, conveys authority. But it's juxtaposed with the commercial branding of Allen & Ginter, Virginia. This conflation speaks to how the image of monarchy could be repackaged as part of a consumer fantasy. Understanding this image requires us to look at periodicals, advertisements, and business records of the era. These resources reveal how images circulate and accrue meaning within specific social and institutional contexts. Ultimately, artworks like this are a reminder that meaning is not inherent but is contingent on the culture in which it is produced and consumed.