Kitete, Chief of Mpungu, Africa, from the Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers series (N189) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This small chromolithograph, produced by the William S. Kimball & Company, presents Kitete, Chief of Mpungu, Africa. The printmaking technique allowed for mass production, typical of the late 19th century. Note the sharp detail, achieved through the layering of colors from multiple stones. The aesthetic impact lies in the contrast between the image and the dehumanizing title it was given as part of the ‘Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers series.’ The company’s main business was the manufacturing of cigarettes, which were given away with the cards to encourage repeat purchases. This tells us that the image was made within a specific social and economic context of mass production, colonialism, and the creation of racial stereotypes. Therefore, we can see how these materials and modes of production are tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, challenging any traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.