Tartar, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Tartar, from Types of Nationalities (N240)*, a charming commercial color lithograph issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890. Part of a popular series of collectible trading cards distributed in cigarette packs, this tiny print (unfolded to just 6 7/8 × 1 7/16 inches) captures a stylized portrait of a Tatar man, reflecting the era's fascination with global ethnic diversity. These cards were a clever marketing ploy, encouraging smokers to collect full sets while showcasing "types" from around the world. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough in mass printing, allowing vivid colors and intricate details to be reproduced affordably on thin cardstock. Kinney Bros., a New York-based tobacco firm, excelled in this technique, producing eye-catching images that folded neatly for packaging. Though ephemera—intended as disposable promotions—these cards hold artistic merit in their bold compositions and ethnographic flair. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection (a gift from the pioneering collector himself), *Tartar* offers a window into Gilded Age consumer culture and evolving views of nationality. A delightful snapshot of history, it reminds us how everyday objects can preserve cultural narratives.

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...