U.S. Sloop Alert, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: So, this lithograph is titled *U.S. Sloop Alert* and it’s from 1889, made by Kinney Brothers. It looks like a promotional image printed on a small card, maybe for cigarettes? I’m really struck by the colors. The muted tones feel almost nostalgic, like a faded memory of a grand ship sailing the seas. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to how this image attempts to encapsulate the symbolic power of the US Sloop. Look at the prominence of the American flags – both in full view and seemingly disappearing behind a decorative fold. What feeling does that contrast evoke in you? Editor: I think the use of both evokes a feeling of tradition versus… I’m not sure, maybe industry because this was also for cigarettes? Curator: Precisely. This tension between tradition and modernity is central. A warship evokes a sense of national pride and military strength, and Kinney Brothers use it to subtly imbue their brand with those same values. Consider also the etymology of the word "Alert"; which is something consumers would seek from this type of product. Editor: So it’s all connected. The name of the ship, the flags… What about the ship itself? Does that have a symbolic weight too? Curator: Absolutely! Naval vessels were powerful symbols of American innovation and global reach in the late 19th century. To see a lithograph representing this ideal printed on a card accompanying "high class" cigarettes demonstrates that the burgeoning brand also aspired for the same "high class" image of U.S. global projection in culture and trade. Do you see how those symbols coalesce into something beyond a mere advertisement? Editor: Wow, I do now! I just saw a pretty boat picture. It's so interesting how much more this image has to say, connecting the ship, the company's ambition, and national identity all through symbols. I won’t look at ads the same way again!