Grenadier of the Guard, Germany, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of a Grenadier of the Guard was produced in Germany in 1886 by the Kinney Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards offer a fascinating window into the culture of the late 19th century. Here, the image creates meaning through its depiction of German military might. The grenadier is rendered with meticulous detail, emphasizing the precision and discipline associated with the German army at the time. Germany had only recently unified as a nation in 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War, and the military was central to its identity and sense of national pride. The associations of military service were strong, shaping the economic and political environment of the time. As historians, we can delve into the institutional history of both the military and the tobacco industry to understand the cultural significance of this image better. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.