Capitol of Indiana in Indianapolis, from the General Government and State Capitol Buildings series (N14) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This small card was made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands, part of a series depicting government and state capitol buildings. The printmaking process used to create it involved transferring an image onto paper, likely through lithography, allowing for mass production. The image, though small, speaks volumes about industrialization and consumer culture. Cigarette cards like this were essentially collectible advertisements, using attractive images to boost sales. The visual is meticulously detailed given the size, creating a sense of prestige around both the depicted capitol building and the cigarette brand. This was made possible by sophisticated printing technology; note the precise lines and careful coloring. What’s interesting here is the tie-in to wider issues of labor and capitalism, particularly in the tobacco industry. While this image seems benign, consider the amount of labor involved in growing tobacco, manufacturing cigarettes, and printing these cards. It encourages us to look beyond the surface appeal and think about the systems of production that bring such objects into being. Ultimately, it challenges how we perceive the relationship between art, commerce, and society.