Saint Valentine's Day, United States, from the Holidays series (N80) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

This Saint Valentine’s Day card was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the United States, around the turn of the 20th century, using chromolithography. The card itself is paper, transformed through industrial printing to bear a romantic image. The process of chromolithography allowed for mass production of colorful images like this, making them accessible to a wide audience. But beyond mere reproduction, the technique also allows for a remarkable likeness to painting. Notice the soft gradations of color in the woman’s dress, and the delicately rendered background. The image, part of a series for Duke brand cigarettes, speaks to the intersection of commerce and sentiment. Printed ephemera like this was integral to building consumer culture, a reminder that even expressions of love could be packaged and sold. This card reveals the degree to which everyday life has been shaped by the forces of industrial production and consumption.