George R. Jones, The New York Times, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph of George R. Jones, of the New York Times, was included in a series of “American Editors” in cigarette packs produced by Allen & Ginter, sometime in the 1880s. The politics of imagery are brought into sharp focus when we look at a piece like this. Consider the implications of a tobacco company using the likeness of a prominent news editor to market its products! This tiny portrait flattens the complexity of a powerful figure into a collectible item. The Gilded Age in America saw the rise of both mass media and mass consumerism, and this kind of commercial appropriation was not uncommon. As art historians, we might ask how this trivialization of Jones’ image may have impacted the perceived integrity of journalism at the time. You could look at contemporary publications and business records to find out. This simple image offers valuable insights into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century.