Polish Mazurka, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Polish Mazurka, National Dances (N, Type 1)*, a delightful chromolithograph produced by the Kinney Brothers Company in 1889 This petite card, measuring just 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 inches, captures elegant women in flowing dresses mid-dance, evoking the lively rhythms of the Polish mazurka—a folk dance rose to international fame in ballrooms across Europe and America. Issued as inserts in tobacco products, these cards were designed to entice collectors, transforming everyday cigarette packs into treasures of visual delight. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough in commercial printing, allowing vivid colors and intricate details to be mass-produced affordably. Kinney Brothers, pioneers in this trend, created the "National Dances" series to showcase global cultural traditions, blending education with promotion. The mazurka itself, with its gliding steps and spirited accents, symbolized Poland's resilient heritage amid partitions and exiles, making this card a snapshot of cultural exchange in Gilded Age America. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights how everyday objects preserved artistry and history. A charming reminder that even small prints can twirl us through time!

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...