Order of the Legion of Honor, France, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This promotional card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, made by the Kinney Tobacco Company, presents the French Legion of Honor. These cards were chromolithographs - a relatively new and rapidly developing printing process at the time. Multiple stones were used to apply different colored inks to the paper, creating a vibrant image. The process involved industrial means of production. These cards represent the convergence of mass production, advertising, and cultural values in the late 19th century. Tobacco companies used them to promote their brands but also to educate and entertain consumers, embedding products in the everyday lives of people. The subject matter, such as military honors, would appeal to the consumer's sense of patriotism. The card’s very existence speaks to the democratization of visual culture. It also highlights the intertwined relationship between commerce, labor, and the construction of national identity. This challenges our conventional notions of art, and invites us to consider the broader social and economic forces that shape our visual world.