Flora, Goddess of the Spring, from the Goddesses of the Greeks and Romans series (N188) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small card, depicting Flora, Goddess of Spring, was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. through chromolithography, a process that involves creating a color print from a series of lithographic stones. What sets this print apart is its direct tie to industrial production. Far from a unique artwork, it was one of many inserted into cigarette packages as a collectible. The relatively cheap, mass-produced nature of the card allowed for widespread distribution, embedding classical imagery within the everyday lives of consumers. The smooth, consistent texture and vibrant colors are a direct result of the industrialized printing process, vastly different from the unique textures found in handmade artworks. In its original context, this image was less about artistic expression and more about marketing, enticing customers to purchase more cigarettes to complete a set. This context urges us to rethink traditional notions of value in art, inviting us to consider the social and economic forces that shape our visual world.