Colonel, Veteran Zouaves, Elizabeth, New Jersey, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It’s a colorful image of a Colonel of Veteran Zouaves in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Lithography, a printing process using a stone or metal plate with a smooth surface, allowed for the mass production of these cards, reflecting the rise of consumer culture and mass media in the late 19th century. The chromolithographic process involves using multiple stones or plates, each applying a different color, to create a full-color image. This was a labor-intensive process, requiring skilled workers to meticulously align each color layer. The card speaks to the links between commerce, patriotism, and popular culture, using military imagery to sell cigarettes, reflecting the social and political context of the time. It also prompts us to think about the often-hidden labor involved in creating seemingly simple, mass-produced items. Appreciating the artistry and labor of chromolithography challenges our assumptions about what constitutes art, and where we might find it.