Red Shirt, Dakota Sioux, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N2) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands
1888
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
63.350.201.2.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant chromolithograph, *Red Shirt, Dakota Sioux captures the dignified portrait of a Dakota Sioux leader as part of the *American Indian Chiefs* series (N2), produced by the Allen & Ginter cigarette company in 1888. just 2¾ x 1½ inches, these diminutive prints were designed as collectible inserts tucked into cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into coveted trading cards for enthusiasts of the era. The commercial color lithograph technique—pioneered in the late 19th century—enabled mass production of richly hued images with remarkable detail, making high-quality art...
About the Artist
Allen & Ginter
Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...