Horse Artillery, France, 1853, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph, "Horse Artillery, France, 1853," was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The process of chromolithography allowed for the mass production of colorful images, turning advertising into a collectible phenomenon. Printed on thin paper, the image is flat, yet the details of the soldier's uniform – the texture of the fabric, the gleam of buttons – are rendered with surprising precision. This was achieved through the layering of multiple colors, each applied from a separate stone. The work would have been divided amongst draughtsmen, stone polishers, and printers. The card exemplifies how industrial production techniques were applied to create consumer ephemera. The card was essentially disposable, yet it also offered a glimpse into the wider world, stirring desire for distant places. It demonstrates the fusion of commerce, art, and everyday life, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture.