Alice Lingard, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes, features a portrait of Alice Lingard. It’s a chromolithograph, meaning that it was printed using multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color. This allowed for mass production of colorful images, a departure from earlier, more laborious printmaking techniques. The card stock itself, though humble, is key. Its thinness speaks to disposability, designed to be collected but perhaps ultimately discarded. But the image! Notice how the subtle color gradations give Alice Lingard a lifelike quality, enhancing her appeal. This was a deliberate strategy by Allen & Ginter to elevate their brand. These cards were essentially tiny advertisements, capitalizing on the public's fascination with beauty and celebrity. The intense labor of the printing process contrasts sharply with the card's eventual fate – a momentary distraction within a packet of cigarettes. It’s a fascinating example of how art, commerce, and labor intertwine, blurring the boundaries between high art and everyday ephemera.