Hare and Hounds, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This small chromolithograph was produced by Goodwin & Company, as part of a series of collectible cards packaged with Old Judge Cigarettes. Chromolithography was a relatively new technology at the time, allowing for mass production of colorful images. The process involved creating a series of stone printing plates, one for each color, and then carefully layering them to create the final image. The card depicts a portrait of a woman, and in the background, two young men are mid-game of "Hare and Hounds". The popularity of these cards reflects the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century, where everyday items became canvases for advertising and collecting. While appearing as small tokens, these cards also represent the labor involved in tobacco production, printing, and distribution – often involving marginalized communities. Considering the materials, making, and context allows us to understand how even seemingly simple images are embedded in broader social and economic networks.