A Minstrel's Lay, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

This color lithograph, "A Minstrel's Lay," was made around 1890 as a promotional insert for Duke brand cigarettes. Chromolithography, the technique used to produce these cards, was a relatively new process at the time, enabling manufacturers to create colorful, eye-catching images at an affordable cost. This small card exemplifies the democratizing force of industrial production. Lithography allowed for the widespread distribution of images, making art accessible beyond the elite circles of painting and sculpture. It's no accident that the card was included in a package of cigarettes. Like other forms of advertising, such as billboards and posters, these cards aimed to capture the attention of the working class and promote consumerism. The mass production of these cards reflects the changing dynamics of labor and leisure in the late 19th century. While the minstrel in the image might represent traditional forms of entertainment, the card itself speaks to the rise of a consumer culture fueled by industrial capitalism. In this way, "A Minstrel's Lay" embodies the intersection of art, commerce, and society during the turn of the century.