20th Punjab Infantry, Ind. Cont., England, 1879, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This colour drawing, dating to 1888, depicts the "20th Punjab Infantry, Ind. Cont., England, 1879." It comes from the Military Series created by Kinney Tobacco Company as advertisement for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the flatness of the image. The colouring is limited to a small range. It reminds me a bit of paper dolls with how carefully articulated and flattened the different parts are. Curator: That flattening certainly contributes to the caricature effect, which is characteristic for these kinds of promotional prints. Let's focus on the materiality. Notice how the application of color doesn't so much attempt realism as to emphasize certain linear elements of the military outfit, bringing into sharp focus a system of visual codes meant to denote authority and hierarchy. Editor: Exactly. Each badge and decoration, clearly highlighted, are symbolic of honor, courage, and service to the Empire. The gold tones lend a glow of heroism, despite the overall static presentation. He's weighted down with meaning! Curator: You're absolutely right. The way the body almost acts as a flat surface onto which visual signifiers of status can be inscribed speaks to the inherent artificiality of portraiture. The gaze and expression are secondary to what these decorations are communicating, wouldn't you say? Editor: Yes, even his stance feels a little less about individual heroism and more about projecting a global order that is inherently and visibly stratified. It’s a symbolic, idealized image crafted to evoke respect and, of course, sell cigarettes. It captures a potent mixture of exoticism and military might that certainly resonated in the late 19th century. Curator: A reading deeply embedded in the intersection of advertising and imperialism! Editor: Yes. I think considering that lens provides much depth to the understanding of this rather simple seeming artwork.