Highland Fling, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the lively world of 19th-century American ephemera with *Highland Fling*, vibrant commercial color lithograph the *National Dances* seriesN225, Type 1), issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company 1889. Measuring just 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 inches, this petite print was designed as a collectible insert tucked into tobacco products, captivating smokers and enthusiasts alike with its depiction of spirited women dancers mid-leap in the iconic Scottish Highland Fling. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough technique for mass-producing colorful images, brought folk traditions to life affordably, blending artistry with clever marketing. Kinney Bros. leveraged such cards to build brand loyalty, sparking a collecting craze that preserved cultural snapshots like this one—showcasing traditional dances amid America's growing fascination with global heritage during the Gilded Age. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, *Highland Fling* highlights ephemera's role in everyday history, transforming a humble trade card into a window on Victorian leisure, national pride, and the joyful whirl of dancers frozen in exuberant motion.

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...