Dimensions: Sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. (3.8 x 7 cm)
Copyright: Public Domain
This small card depicting the Capitol of Nebraska in Lincoln was produced by Allen & Ginter, lithographers who flourished through mass production. Consider the context: this was one of a series of cards inserted in packs of cigarettes. The image itself is a product, meant to encourage brand loyalty. The printing process is key here, allowing for the rapid reproduction of images. Lithography enabled the distribution of images on a scale never before imagined, and as a result, the firm that produced it also made popular series of baseball players, flags, and animals. The very disposability of these cards points to a culture of mass consumption and widespread distribution of images as ephemera. Appreciating the material and its context challenges our conventional understanding of art, and prompts questions about the relationship between commerce, craft, and culture.
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