General, Pomeranian Cuirassiers, Germany, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph was produced in Germany in 1886 by the Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The making of these cards involved a range of processes, from drawing to chemical treatments and printing techniques. The card depicts a full-length portrait of a General, Prince Otto Von Bismarck. His uniform displays incredible detail and embellishments. Chromolithography allowed for mass production of colorful images, intertwining industrial processes with artistic creation. The material qualities of the print, with its smooth surface and vibrant colors, reflect the industrial processes of the time. The image served both as a collectible item and as an advertisement, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and everyday life. It speaks to the labor and industrial advancements of the late 19th century. Considering its materials and making, this artwork underscores the entanglement of aesthetics, consumerism, and industrial production, challenging conventional distinctions between commercial ephemera and artistic expression.