Mon. Ephrussi, from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22b) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card titled ‘Mon. Ephrussi’ is from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22b) and was made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards, produced in the late 19th century, capture the spirit of a rapidly industrializing America, a period when leisure and consumer culture were on the rise. The series reflects the era's fascination with globalism, presenting racing colors from around the world to American audiences, but it also speaks to the ways in which identity and status were being packaged and sold. The figure depicted, Mon. Ephrussi, embodies this intersection of identity and commerce. The card offers a romanticized image of European aristocracy engaged in the sport of horse racing. The card invites us to think about the relationship between leisure, identity, and the commercial forces that shape them. How do we participate in the construction of identity through our consumption and our cultural representations?