Private, Maryland State Militia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So this is a lithograph, dating back to 1888, made to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It's titled "Private, Maryland State Militia." I am really intrigued by how meticulously detailed his uniform is. How do you interpret the symbolism at play in this portrait? Curator: Ah, yes. Consider how the uniform itself functions as a powerful signifier. The crisp lines, the polished buttons, the very specific shade of blue, they all speak to a sense of order, discipline, and, perhaps most importantly, belonging. But consider too, what that belonging implies in 1888, particularly in Maryland. Editor: I see what you mean. It seems this portrait might convey more than just the image of a soldier. Are there perhaps, messages subtly embedded regarding societal structures and power? Curator: Precisely. Think about the intended audience for these cards—primarily white, male smokers. What does it mean to offer them an image of a uniformed man, presumably also white, embodying notions of state pride and perhaps even implicit control? Also, does this commercial context undermine or amplify the perceived patriotism? Editor: That's a lot to think about. I guess I hadn't considered the relationship between advertising and these more complex cultural messages. Curator: And what of the man’s pose? Stiff, almost uncomfortable, isn't it? Does that contribute or detract from an overall sense of authority? Perhaps the rigidity points to something else entirely. Maybe something manufactured for consumption. Editor: I see the figure in a totally new way now! The artist really captured a moment loaded with unspoken meaning. Curator: Exactly! It reveals a layering of cultural aspirations, anxieties and economic strategies, making this seemingly simple image incredibly rich and rewarding to unpack.