Gallic Spearman, France, B.C., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was made by the Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It depicts a Gallic Spearman from France, B.C. The card’s visual impact comes from the layering of colours, applied using lithography, a printing process where each color is printed separately from a stone or metal plate. Though a far cry from the battlefield, this mode of production mirrors the industrial logic of the late 19th century. Consider how this card served a dual purpose. It entertained consumers and promoted a product. This was a deliberate business strategy, using images of historical figures to lend an air of sophistication to a decidedly less refined product: mass-produced cigarettes. The image and its mode of production tell a complex story, blurring the lines between fine art, commercial design, and industrial manufacturing.