Private, 2nd Battalion, Maryland, National Guard, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Here, we see a private in the Maryland National Guard offering a salute. Consider the gesture of the salute itself. It is a ritual act of respect and acknowledgment, deeply rooted in military tradition, but also seen across many cultures and times. We see similar gestures in ancient Roman art, where figures raise their hands in a sign of greeting or supplication, carrying with it connotations of respect. This single act is a symbolic bridge, joining past and present, reflecting a persistent human need for order, respect, and connection. The salute is a potent symbol, a public demonstration of loyalty and honor, echoing through the ages. It is a cyclical progression that has resurfaced and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.