Blue Prussian Uhlan, Germany, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, made in 1886 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, depicts a Blue Prussian Uhlan as part of a series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The figure is adorned with a sabre; in ancient cultures, the sword was not merely a weapon but a symbol of authority, justice, and protection. We see echoes of this in the Roman gladius, wielded as a symbol of imperial power, or even in Renaissance art where the sword often denotes nobility or divine mandate. Think of depictions of Saint Michael. Consider the emotional weight of the soldier’s upright posture and piercing gaze, embodying courage and readiness. This is reminiscent of ancient warrior statues. The image is a vessel of cultural memory; the symbol of the sabre has been passed down through history, evolving and adapting, yet still stirring something primal in the viewer. It’s a reminder of the cyclical nature of history and symbols—how they resurface, transformed, yet still echoing ancient archetypes.