Madrilena, from National Dances (N225, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Madrilena, from National Dances (N, Type 2)*, a charming commercial color lithograph produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1889 This petite card, measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches, captures the spirited essence of a Spanish dancer—likely evoking the lively rhythms of Madrid's folk traditions. Part of a popular series inserted into cigarette packs, these "National Dances" cards celebrated global cultures, blending exotic allure with everyday collectibles to entice smokers and hobbyists alike. The lithographic technique shines here, enabling bold, multicolored prints on thin paper that made mass production affordable and eye-catching. Kinney Brothers, innovative tobacco marketers, issued these ephemera to boost brand loyalty amid fierce competition, turning a simple trade card into a cultural snapshot. Collected avidly today, as seen in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it reflects America's growing fascination with international dance forms during the Gilded Age. Fun fact: Such cards fueled a collecting craze, preserving glimpses of women's roles in performance arts long before photography dominated. A delightful window into Victorian-era commerce and culture!

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...