Statue, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 4) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

In 1889, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco issued this petite chromolithograph as part of its "Novelties" (N228, Type 4), titled *Statue*. Measuring just 2⅝ × 1⅞ inches, this ephemeral print was likely a collectible insert tucked into cigarette packages, enticing smokers—especially men—with vibrant, novelty-themed imagery. The profile of a woman evokes classical statuary, blending Victorian fascination with antiquity and feminine beauty, as hinted by the tags "Profiles|Women." Chromolithography, a pioneering color printing technique, allowed for mass production of vivid, multi-hued designs at low cost, revolutionizing commercial art in the Gilded Age. Kinney Bros., a prominent tobacco firm, capitalized on the trading card craze, fostering a collector culture that predated modern baseball cards. This piece exemplifies ephemera as accessible art, bridging advertising and popular aesthetics. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American print ephemera gifted in 1948—it highlights how everyday commerce shaped visual culture, turning a simple tobacco premium into a snapshot of 19th-century innovation and allure.

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...