Bandmaster, from the Occupations of Women series (N502) for Frishmuth's Tobacco Company

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Bandmaster*, a charming chromolithograph from Frishmuth's Tobacco *Occupations of Women* series (N502), issued in 1889. This tiny gem, measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches, depicts a poised woman as a bandmaster—baton in hand, surrounded by musical instruments and perhaps a hint of furniture like a conductor's stand—challenging traditional gender norms by placing her in a leadership role typically reserved for men. Produced as a collectible insert for cigarette packs, this commercial color lithograph showcases the era's mastery of chromolithography, a technique that layered vibrant hues through multiple stone printing plates for affordable, eye-catching mass production. Part of a broader series celebrating women's diverse professions, it reflects the Gilded Age's growing fascination with female empowerment amid industrialization and suffrage movements, blending whimsy with subtle social commentary. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American ephemera gifted by the legendary collector—this ephemera print offers a window into everyday Victorian leisure and commerce, reminding us how tobacco companies fueled collecting crazes while subtly reshaping cultural views on women.