A Short History: General John H. Morgan, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 1888

This small chromolithograph was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century as a promotional item for tobacco. It’s a busy composition, dividing the surface into distinct pictorial zones which seem to celebrate General John H. Morgan. The layout juxtaposes the general's portrait with pastoral vignettes and floral motifs. The portrait itself is rendered with a soft focus, while the other zones use sharper lines. Together, they create a layered, almost dreamlike visual experience. In the context of late 19th-century commercial art, this image functions as a cultural artifact, reflecting the era's values and aesthetics. The combination of portraiture and idyllic scenes suggests an attempt to ennoble both the subject and the product. The semiotic interplay here is evident: the general’s image is a signifier of honor. However, the intended associations with tobacco complicate the narrative. The artwork encourages us to question fixed meanings and examine the underlying ideologies embedded within commercial representation.