Governor's Foot Guard, Hartford, Connecticut, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is “Governor's Foot Guard, Hartford, Connecticut,” a print from 1888 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It depicts a soldier, quite stiff and formal. It’s interesting to see a military figure used to advertise Sweet Caporal cigarettes. What draws your attention in this piece? Curator: What interests me is precisely the connection between this representation of military might and its function as tobacco advertising. The image, likely mass-produced through lithography, becomes a commodity itself, distributed with each purchase of Sweet Caporal cigarettes. This points to the commodification of patriotism and even the military itself, doesn't it? Editor: So, you're focusing on the material context – how it was made and what it was used for, rather than just the image itself? Curator: Exactly. Think about the labor involved: the artist creating the image, the factory workers producing the cigarettes and packaging, the distribution networks spreading them across the country. This seemingly simple image embodies a complex web of production and consumption within the burgeoning industrial capitalism of the late 19th century. Who was consuming it, and what meanings did they attach to this convergence of military pride and smoking? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered all the layers of manufacturing and marketing that went into a small card like this. I tend to focus on the artistic style or subject, rather than its journey as an object. Curator: And think about the materiality of the card itself - the paper, the ink, the printing techniques, versus other ephemera of the time. Even the "Sweet Caporal" branding ties it to larger questions of consumerism and desire. Editor: It changes how I look at things! The connection between art, commerce, and society is much clearer now. Curator: Indeed, and hopefully reveals new avenues of inquiry to consider going forward.