Officer, Polytechnique School, French Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is an 1886 cigarette card by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company portraying an officer of the French Army's Polytechnique School. Note the figure's confident stance and attire—a military uniform adorned with golden buttons and a decorative belt that speak of power and status. The sword by his side and the hat are symbols of authority. But consider the deeper roots of these symbols. The sword, for instance, has ancient origins, once a simple tool for battle, it evolved into a symbol of justice and might. Think of the Roman gladius, or even the ceremonial swords wielded by knights of the Middle Ages. Its presence here evokes a lineage of power stretching back through time. The uniform itself, with its structured form and embellishments, has been echoed throughout history in different forms. The red stripes on the officer's trousers mirror the red togas of ancient Roman senators. It embodies the human desire to project strength and order through visual representation. These images engage our subconscious on a primal level, triggering respect, and perhaps even fear. Military garments evolve across time, and the meanings shift through different eras. In the 1880s, this was about colonial power. Such cyclical resurfacing of symbols reveals how humanity's collective memory shapes our present understanding.