Officer, Balitmore, Maryland, Light Infantry, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small promotional card produced by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company depicts an officer from the Baltimore, Maryland Light Infantry. Notice his elaborate helmet and the tightly buttoned tunic, symbols of authority and militaristic precision. This image, seemingly a simple portrait, echoes motifs found in Renaissance art. The officer's stance, with sword at his side, recalls classical depictions of military leaders, their power and readiness captured in a single, enduring pose. The rigid posture and controlled expression hide raw emotions, reflecting a sublimation of personal feelings for the sake of duty and social decorum. It's an echo of the antique, of heroes in marble. Consider how such symbols have morphed through time, from battlefield to theatre, and now to cigarette cards; what once represented martial strength now sells tobacco. This image connects us to an emotional undercurrent that persists through generations, an echo of mankind's fascination with power.