Private, Light Artillery, United States Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph was created in 1886 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image presents a meticulously rendered figure of a U.S. Army private in full dress uniform. Notice how the composition relies on a strong vertical axis, reinforced by the soldier’s upright posture. The color palette is dominated by the dark blue of the uniform, accented by the vibrant red trim and the contrasting light blue trousers. This juxtaposition creates a striking visual rhythm. The fine detail, achieved through chromolithography, lends the figure a sense of depth and texture, almost ironical considering its distribution as a commercial ephemera. The image's structure—a blend of rigid formality and vibrant coloration—encapsulates the late 19th-century fascination with military precision and display, reflecting broader societal values of order and aesthetic presentation. This interplay highlights how popular art can embody and disseminate cultural ideologies.