Portrait of woman, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small portrait of a woman was part of a series of collectibles distributed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It’s made of paper, printed with chromolithography, a color printing technique that became widespread in the late 19th century. Chromolithography allowed for mass production of colorful images, like this one, layering colors from multiple stones or plates to create the final effect. Look closely, and you can see the slight misregistrations that are typical of the process. The paper it's printed on has a thickness and texture that speaks to its mass-produced, commercial function as a novelty item. These cards were cheap to produce but valuable as marketing tools. The Kinney Brothers, like other tobacco companies, understood the appeal of these collectible cards, using them to build brand loyalty and expand their consumer base. What might seem like a simple portrait is actually a window into the industrial processes and marketing strategies of the late 19th century. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about labor, consumption, and culture.