Hujat Khan, Mahomedan Khan, Afghanistan, from the Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers series (N189) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, American tobacco companies like Wm. S. Kimball & Co. popularized collectible trading cards as promotional inserts in cigarette packs, captivating enthusiasts with vivid images of far-off cultures. This petite commercial color lithograph, titled *Hujat, Mahomedan Khan Afghanistan*, from the "Savage and Semi-Barous Chiefs and Rulers series (N189), that trend. Issued in 1888, the card measures just 2 11/16 × 1 1/2 inches, designed for easy collection and trading. Its subject, an Afghan leader, is rendered in a formal portrait style, reflecting Western fascination—and often romanticized or exoticized—views of "Oriental" rulers during the height of European and American imperialism. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing mass production of vibrant, multi-colored prints from stone plates, making high-quality imagery affordable for everyday consumers. Though ephemeral by nature, these cards hold artistic merit in their precise detailing and bold colors, capturing the sitter's dignified gaze and traditional attire. The series' provocative title underscores the era's colonial mindset, labeling non-Western figures as "savage" or "semi-barbarous," a lens now critiqued for its cultural biases. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print offers a window into Gilded Age advertising, global perceptions, and the dawn of popular visual culture. A tiny artifact with big stories!

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company · 1850–1950

**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...