Sioux Chief, North America, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph, “Sioux Chief, North America”, was mass-produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional insert for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image, printed on thin paper stock, depicts a stylized version of a Sioux chief, his garments and accessories rendered with flat, bright colors and simplified forms, reflecting the industrial printing process of the time. This process allowed for the cheap and rapid production of images, and its relationship with marketing, which served the needs of mass consumption and furthered a kind of capitalism. While the image makes a nod towards the visual culture of the Sioux, the actual act of production is far removed from any indigenous craft tradition, and the image ultimately reinforces a commercial agenda. This small card reminds us that images, like objects, have a life beyond their immediate aesthetic appeal, enmeshed within social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It challenges us to consider how the means of production and distribution can shape cultural perceptions.