War Dance, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *War Dance*, a charming chromolithograph from the *National Dances* series (N225, Type 1), issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 9. This petite print, measuring just ¾ × 1½ inches, captures the dynamic energy of male dancers in traditional attire, evoking rituals of strength and cultural heritage. As part of a popular tobacco trade card set, it was distributed to promote Kinney's cigarette brands, blending commercial savvy with artistic flair to entice collectors. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing in the Gilded Age, allowing vivid colors and intricate details to be reproduced affordably on a grand scale. These ephemera—often discarded after use—now hold historical value, reflecting America's fascination with global cultures and "exotic" dances amid expanding world trade and imperialism. The *National Dances* series romanticized international traditions, turning everyday tobacco purchases into a passport to far-flung festivities. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card exemplifies how everyday objects preserve slices of social history. A tiny window into late Victorian leisure, it invites us to ponder the intersections of commerce, art, and cultural curiosity.

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...