Bugler, Louisville Legion, Kentucky, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This late 19th-century chromolithograph was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image depicts a bugler from the Louisville Legion of Kentucky, part of a "Military Series" of collectible cards. Printed with multiple colors from lithographic stones, the process allowed for mass production and distribution. These cards were not fine art, they were explicitly commercial. The chromolithography used here, while not necessarily labor-intensive, was certainly highly efficient in an era when companies were looking for the next gimmick to attract consumers. The card's small size and collectible nature also encouraged repeat purchases. The card represents a convergence of military imagery, consumer culture, and industrial production. It’s a potent reminder that art and commerce have long been intertwined, and that the materials and methods of production shape not only the appearance of an object but also its social and cultural significance. This challenges the traditional separation of fine art and everyday objects.