Officer, Rhode Island Strate Militia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

The Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company created this small lithograph, "Officer, Rhode Island State Militia," around 1888, as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Far from traditional art materials, this print was a mass-produced artifact, reflecting the rise of consumer culture. The chromolithography process allowed for vibrant colors and multiple impressions, churning out images at an unprecedented scale. Consider the labor involved: from the artists creating the original design, to the factory workers operating the lithographic presses, to the tobacco farmers growing the raw materials. These cards were not just images; they were products of a complex network of industry and commerce. Though small in scale, this card speaks volumes about the changing landscape of art, labor, and consumption in the late 19th century, challenging our notions of artistic value and reminding us that even the humblest objects can hold profound cultural significance.