Eight Hearts (red), from the Playing Cards series (N84) for Duke brand cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.204.84.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, American tobacco like W. Duke, Sons & Co. revolutionized by inserting colorful collectible cards into cigarette packs, turning everyday purchases into a treasure hunt for enthusiasts. "Eight Hearts (red)" is one such gem from the Playing Cards series (N84 produced in 1888 a commercial color lithograph Measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches, this petite print depicts a vibrant array of eight red hearts,oking the playful symbolism of a standard deck while promoting Duke's brand. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough technique for affordable, multi-color printing, allowed fo...
About the Artist
W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1870–1920
**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...