Card 8, Limenitis Ursula, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This small card was made by the Wm. S. Kimball & Company, and it’s one of a series of butterfly images printed on paper. This wasn’t fine art, it was mass production, pure and simple. These cards were given away with cigarettes. The chromolithographic process allowed for colorful images to be reproduced quickly and cheaply. Think about the division of labor required for this kind of printing. From the artists who designed the image, to the factory workers who ran the printing presses, each card represents a complex web of labor and industrial production. The card is an early example of advertising strategies that have become ubiquitous today. The image of a beautiful woman combined with the allure of nature created a desirable association with the product being sold, cigarettes. The card transforms an interest in nature into a moment of consumption, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and everyday life. So, next time you see an advertisement, remember this little card. It’s a reminder that art and commerce have always been intertwined.