Commandant of Artillery, French Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of 1886, by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, depicts a Commandant of Artillery in the French Army. Produced to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, it reflects a time when commercial interests and military imagery were closely intertwined. In late 19th-century France, the military held a significant place in national identity, especially after the Franco-Prussian War. The image uses visual codes of power and authority: the officer's meticulously detailed uniform, his upright posture, and the presence of his sword and binoculars. These project an image of strength and readiness. The commercial function of the image is evident in the prominent branding, linking military prestige with the consumption of tobacco. Art historians might explore this image through period sources such as military regulations, fashion plates, and advertising ephemera. By situating the image within its cultural and economic context, we can better understand the complex interplay between commerce, patriotism, and visual representation in late 19th-century France.