Private, Roxbury Horse Guards, Massachusetts, V.M., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is a chromolithograph card from a series issued by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, designed to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The composition of the image presents a full-length portrait of a soldier, rigidly posed, drawing immediate attention. The subject is adorned in a uniform of striking color contrasts—a scarlet jacket against muted turquoise trousers. This use of color, combined with the meticulous detail in the rendering of buttons and braiding, creates a visual hierarchy, emphasizing the soldier's presence. The flatness of the chromolithographic technique, devoid of deep shadows or subtle gradations, enhances the image's iconic quality. The soldier becomes less an individual and more a representation of military order and precision. The act of portraying the soldier through the lens of commercial advertisement complicates any straightforward interpretation. It invites us to consider how images, even those seemingly patriotic, are embedded in broader systems of cultural and economic exchange, questioning fixed notions of heroism and duty.