M. L. Barillas, President of Guatemala, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-1) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co.

Art Historical Context

This vibrant commercial color lithograph from 1888 captures Manuel Lisandro Barillas, President of Guatemala from 1885 to 1892, as part of the "Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms" series (N126-1) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a leading American tobacco manufacturer. Measuring just 2½ × 4⅜ inches, these pocket-sized cards were tucked into cigarette packs as promotional inserts, enticing collectors—often children and adults alike—with glimpses of global leaders, their national flags, and heraldic symbols. Barillas, depicted in formal portrait style amid Guatemala's coat of arms and flag, embodies the era's fascination with international politics and empire. Chromolithography, the innovative printing technique used here, allowed for vivid, multi-color reproduction at scale, revolutionizing mass-produced imagery in the late 19th century. Duke's series educated the public on world affairs while boosting tobacco sales, reflecting America's growing commercial reach and cultural curiosity. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights how everyday objects bridged art, advertising, and history, offering a tangible snapshot of 1880s global awareness.

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1870–1920

**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...