Tourist, from the Occupations of Women series (N502) for Frishmuth's Tobacco Company

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Tourist*, a charming commercial color lithograph from Frishmuth's Tobacco *Occupations of Women* (N502), produced in 1889. This petite card, measuring just 2¾ x 1½, depicts a stylish woman peering through binoculars, embodying the pursuit of tourism amid emerging opportunities for women beyond the domestic sphere. Issued as inserts in cigarette packages, these ephemera were collectibles designed to entice smokers and promote brand loyalty during a booming era of tobacco marketing. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass-produced color printing with its layered inks creating vivid, eye-catching imagery—perfect for capturing the fashionable details of Victorian attire and accessories. Part of the Gilded Age's fascination with women's evolving roles, the series highlighted professions from nurse to athlete, reflecting both empowerment and idealized femininity in an industrializing America. Today, this gem resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of over 30 million cards gifted in 1948. It offers a window into consumer culture, gender norms, and the artistry of everyday objects long vanished from pockets but preserved for posterity.