Pole, from World's Smokers series (N33) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph, created by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs, is an early example of mass media. It’s a chromolithograph - a technique involving multiple stones, one for each color, printed in succession to create a layered image. Consider the way the image was made: not by a single artist, but by skilled laborers, repeating the same actions to produce thousands of cards. The material—cheap card stock—further emphasizes the intent: to be collected and traded, then discarded. This particular card features a "Pole" from the "World's Smokers" series. Note the careful depiction of his clothing and pipe, signifiers of cultural identity, flattened into a consumable image. The visual impact relies not on painterly skill, but on the precise registration of colors and the efficiency of the printing press. These cards, though small and seemingly insignificant, offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of industrial production, cultural representation, and the rise of consumer culture. It challenges our traditional understanding of art, prompting us to consider the social and economic forces behind even the most unassuming objects.