Ten Diamonds (red), from the Playing Cards series (N84) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This playing card, "Ten Diamonds", was made for Duke brand cigarettes in the late 19th century using paper and ink. What might seem like a simple throwaway object was actually the product of significant industrial processes. Consider the sheer number of these cards that must have been printed, and the labor involved in designing, printing, and packaging them. The punchy red diamonds, mechanically reproduced, speak to the rise of mass production and consumer culture. There's a fascinating tension here: playing cards evoke leisure and games, yet their creation was deeply embedded in the world of work and commerce. The card itself is humble, but it represents a much larger story about the changing landscape of work, leisure, and consumption during the Industrial Revolution. Recognizing these connections enriches our understanding of everyday objects, and challenges conventional hierarchies between art and the ephemera of daily life.