Flower Dance, from National Dances (N225, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Flower Dance*, a charming commercial color lithograph from the "National Dances" seriesN225, Type 2), issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company 1889. This petite print, measuring just 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 inches, captures graceful women in flowing attire, twirling with fans and flowers in a lively dance. Produced as collectible inserts for cigarette packs, it exemplifies the era's clever marketing, blending artistry with commerce to entice smokers and hobbyists alike. Chromolithography, the medium's star technique, brought vivid hues and intricate details to these tiny cards, making them affordable luxuries that rivaled fine art in color richness. Part of the celebrated Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, *Flower Dance* reflects late Victorian fascination with global folk traditions, romanticizing national dances through elegant female figures adorned with fans and blooms—symbols of femininity and festivity. Today, this ephemera gem offers a window into consumer culture and cultural exchange, highlighting how everyday objects preserved snapshots of joy and movement for generations of collectors.

About the Artist

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011

**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...