Euterpe, Muse of Music, from the Goddesses of the Greeks and Romans series (N188) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small chromolithograph of Euterpe, the Muse of Music, was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. It’s a mass-produced color print, made possible by industrial advancements in printing technology. Think about the contrast: the subject is a classical muse, suggesting timeless artistic inspiration, yet the medium is thoroughly modern and commercial. The image is built up through layers of colored inks, applied using lithographic stones. This process allowed for vibrant colors and fine details to be reproduced quickly and cheaply, reaching a broad audience, in this case, as a trade card included in cigarette packs. The card’s small size and glossy finish speak to its function as a collectible item, reflecting the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century. It represents the democratization of art, but also the commodification of beauty and culture within a capitalist system.