Greek Waltz, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

**Greek Waltz, from National Dances (225, Type 1)** Issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 9, this petite commercial color lithograph is charming example of late 19th-century advertising ephemera. Tobacco companies like Kinney Bros popularized collectible insert cards in cigarette packs, turning everyday purchases into treasures for enthusiasts. Part of the "National D" series (cataloged as N225, Type 1), it captures the era's fascination with global folk traditions, blending exotic allure with American consumer culture. The vivid chromolithography technique—printing in multiple colors from lithographic stones—brought vibrant life to this tiny sheet (just 2¾ × 1½ inches), making it accessible and eye-catching. Depicting male dancers in a "Greek Waltz," it evokes rhythmic movement and cultural fusion, where traditional Greek steps meet the waltz's elegant sway, reflecting romanticized views of European heritage amid America's Gilded Age. Preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print highlights the artistry of commercial design and the collecting craze it sparked. A snapshot of leisure and promotion, it invites us to waltz through history's lighter steps.

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...