Bradley, The Taking of Castle Lawrence, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This small chromolithograph was printed by Allen and Ginter for their series of cigarette cards, sometime in the late 19th century. The ‘Pirates of the Spanish Main’ set was just one of many series they produced to stiffen their cigarette packs, while also providing miniature images for the consumer’s enjoyment. The printmaking process of chromolithography allowed for mass production; the image broken down into a series of color layers, each applied using a separate lithographic stone. This meant that cheap, colorful images could be rapidly produced, and fed a growing consumer market. The card depicts a romanticized image of piracy, showing the taking of Castle Lawrence. On one side, there is a dashing pirate portrait, and on the other, a scene of swashbuckling action. Cigarette cards like this one offer a glimpse into the aesthetics of mass culture and consumerism in the late 1800s, as well as the labor involved in their production. They remind us to consider the making, and the context, behind any image.