Officer, 2nd Battery, National Guard of the State of New York, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This image, entitled "Officer, 2nd Battery, National Guard of the State of New York," comes from the Military Series (N224) produced in 1888 by Kinney Tobacco Company. These cards were inserted into Sweet Caporal Cigarettes packs. Editor: Well, the first thing that strikes me is the curious tension between the detailed military uniform and that almost wallpaper-like background. It feels almost ironic. Curator: That tension is part of the point, I think. Consider the context: tobacco companies used these cards to boost sales. So we have a merging of military symbolism with everyday consumerism. It is like a celebration of authority as something readily available to the masses through these cigarettes. Editor: Precisely! We’re dealing with chromolithography, a mass production technique designed to put art in everyone's pocket—literally. The availability of these cards, the printing process itself, it’s all geared towards consumption, subtly associating the glamor of military service with a readily purchasable commodity. The boots in particular! Look at that gleam! Curator: Absolutely, the production method matters! And I’d emphasize that by portraying the officer, they aimed at more than direct marketing. The late 19th century witnessed increased industrialization alongside anxieties around national identity and militarism. Editor: True. And don't forget, too, the work that goes into even this seemingly simple print. We need to consider the artisans, the printers, the distribution networks. It is labor materialized, presenting the image of authority. It is easy to ignore the exploitation of this labor force by thinking of the content first! Curator: Indeed, and viewed from this angle, the portrait serves less as an homage to an individual officer, but as a small instrument, used to buttress wider social and political dynamics. Editor: Well said. It gives you a whole new appreciation for how such an innocuous commercial product can reflect complex power relations.