Private, Cavalry, United States Army, 1799, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have “Private, Cavalry, United States Army, 1799” from the Military Series, a watercolor and print created around 1888 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The detail is striking for what’s essentially an advertisement. How do you see this piece, knowing it was a promotional item? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image through the lens of power and representation. Here, we have a depiction of a U.S. Cavalry private from 1799, created in 1888 by a tobacco company. The "private" as a symbol. But, who is being invited into the imagery, the mythology, of America here, and who is excluded? What racial and class narratives are at play? Editor: That's a good point, especially thinking about when it was made, well after the Civil War and during a period of intense industrialization and social stratification. It's interesting to consider who was targeted by this ad, and why. Curator: Precisely. What's also intriguing is how this image normalizes the concept of military service, particularly within the context of late 19th-century America. Given the complicated legacy of the U.S. Army's role in westward expansion and the suppression of Indigenous populations, can we really separate this from larger sociopolitical themes? And furthermore, does it normalize notions of masculinity? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. So it is not just about glorifying a soldier, but promoting certain roles. It makes you think about what's not being shown. Curator: Exactly. Consider this print not just as a historical depiction, but as an artifact deeply embedded within its own historical moment, shaping and reinforcing ideas about nationhood, class, and even commerce. Editor: It changes my understanding entirely. I appreciate that perspective. Curator: It's a continuous process of questioning and contextualizing, pushing ourselves to consider the multifaceted stories artworks tell, often unintentionally.