Crested Malimbus, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a chromolithograph of a Crested Malimbus, produced by Allen & Ginter for their series of cigarette cards. Made with multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color to create a vibrant image, the card was a small, yet compelling, example of industrial printmaking. The processes used here, while not traditional art materials, reflect the commercial and consumer culture of the time. Lithography allowed for mass production, making art accessible to a wider audience through everyday objects like cigarette packs. This speaks to the relationship between art, modes of production, and capitalism. While seemingly a simple image of a bird, consider the amount of labor and coordination required to produce these cards on a massive scale, tied to social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.