W.E. Crist, Tricyclist, from World's Champions, Series 2 (N29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, featuring W.E. Crist, was made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs. It’s printed on thin paper, using a chromolithographic process. Consider the context: this card wasn't meant for a museum. It was a cheap collectable, churned out in vast numbers to encourage brand loyalty. The image itself, though, is carefully composed. Crist is presented as a respectable athlete, his portrait rendered with surprising detail. The card also references the industrial revolution with an emerging culture of mass production, mass media, and mass consumption. The chromolithographic process allowed for vibrant colors and relatively quick reproduction, but it also relied on skilled laborers to create the printing plates. This blend of artistry and industry is what makes the card so compelling. It's a humble object, yet it speaks volumes about the culture that produced it, and about the blurring lines between art, commerce, and labor.