Private, Toledo Cadets, Ohio, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, published by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, portrays a "Private, Toledo Cadets, Ohio." The composition is dominated by the figure of a soldier, rendered with meticulous detail. The eye is immediately drawn to the soldier’s uniform, where rows of gold buttons create a dense, patterned surface against the blue fabric. The print’s formal structure reveals a tension between representation and abstraction. While the figure is clearly representational, the flattening of perspective and the emphasis on pattern push the image towards abstraction. This tension can be seen as a reflection of broader cultural shifts during this period, as artists began to explore the limits of representation. The card’s function as a commercial product introduces further layers of meaning. The image of the soldier, with its associations of strength and discipline, serves to promote the Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. However, the artwork invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, commerce, and cultural values.