Napoleon Bonaparte, from the Great Generals series (N15) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph of Napoleon Bonaparte was created by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand. This piece belongs to a series of "Great Generals," and the choice of Napoleon speaks volumes about the cultural landscape of the late 19th century United States. Considered through the lens of institutional history, we see how commercial entities shape the creation and dissemination of images. Allen & Ginter, a tobacco company, used imagery to associate their product with power and prestige. The reference to Napoleon, a figure of European conquest, might seem surprising in a post-Civil War America still grappling with its own internal conflicts. Perhaps the figure of Napoleon served as a symbol of ambition and leadership, abstracted from the specifics of European history. As historians, we can examine popular culture ephemera like this to understand the values and aspirations of the time. By consulting archives of advertising history, and cultural studies, we gain insights into the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of images like this one.