Soldier of the Line, Sweden, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph of a Swedish soldier, dating from 1886, was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a collectible insert for their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image presents a romantic vision of military service. The Swedish soldier is idealized through his smart uniform and upright posture. It's interesting to remember that this image was made for mass consumption. Tobacco companies like Kinney used such images to associate their products with broader cultural values like patriotism and masculinity. They aimed to create a sense of aspiration in their customers. This was a period of intense nationalism in Europe, and Sweden was attempting to define its place in a changing world. By examining sources from the time, such as military records, newspapers, and other visual materials, we can unpack the complex relationship between commercial imagery and national identity. The image reminds us that all art is embedded in a specific social and institutional context.