In the Starlight, from the Illustrated Songs series (N116) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department, where we showcase intriguing ephemera like *In the Starlight* (1893), a petite commercial color lithograph from Illustrated Songs series (N116). Produced by George S. Harris & Sons W. Duke, Sons & Co.—a powerhouse in the American tobacco industry—this 4¼ × 2½-inch card promoted "Honest Long Cut." Tucked into cigarette packages as collectibles, these vivid prints blended popular music lyrics with alluring imagery, often featuring women, to captivate smokers and boost brand loyalty during the Gilded Age's advertising frenzy. Chromolithography, the era's gold standard for mass-produced color printing, allowed Harris & Sons to layer vibrant hues with striking detail on such a tiny scale, transforming everyday tobacco inserts into miniature artworks. This piece reflects the cultural zeitgeist of 1890s America, where tobacco giants like Duke (soon to form the American Tobacco Company) pioneered innovative marketing, turning ephemera into coveted keepsakes that romanticized leisure and femininity. A gem from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, gifted to the Met, *In the Starlight* invites us to ponder how commercial art democratized beauty, bridging high culture and consumer life. Gaze closely—its starry allure still enchants!

About the Artist

George S. Harris & Sons|W. Duke, Sons & Co.|American Tobacco Company (American|American) · | – |

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, Philadelphia