Infantry, Mexico, from the Military Uniforms series (T182) issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

This is "Infantry, Mexico," one of a series of chromolithograph trading cards of military uniforms issued by Abdul Cigarettes in 1881. During this era of global imperialism, these cards often reinforced a sense of national pride, even as they exoticized the ‘other’. Consider this card, which presents a Mexican infantryman: what stories does it tell, and what does it leave out? The man's gaze is steady, his uniform neat, yet the card reduces him to a type, an example of Mexican military might. How does it feel to be both seen and unseen? These cards functioned as tools of promotion and subtle cultural persuasion. They invite us to consider the complex layers of identity and representation during periods of political tension. They are a potent reminder of how everyday objects can carry significant cultural weight and shape our perceptions.