High Constable, Poland, 18th Century, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a print from 1888, "High Constable, Poland, 18th Century," made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional card. I’m struck by the bold colours and how stiff the figure looks, almost like a character in a play. What stories do you see embedded in this image? Curator: The keys reside in those details you’ve already noticed – the stiffness, the colours. While seemingly a portrait of a Polish Constable, it's more a catalogue of symbols meant to evoke "Poland" for an American audience. Consider the costume. It's theatrical, yes, and also a compilation of elements – the bright colours signaling vibrancy and strength, but the cut, a generalized “Eastern European” flair. The sword, the document, these aren’t simply objects; they’re shorthand for authority, for history itself. Does that make sense? Editor: It does. So, it’s less about accuracy and more about creating a visual shortcut to represent Poland? Curator: Exactly. The makers of this image knew their audience. For them, “Poland” was a set of easily digestible symbols. The cultural memory tied to Poland, even distorted or simplified, serves the company's purpose – it adds exoticism, distinction. The portrait flirts with the “noble savage” trope popular at the time, the idea of a powerful figure untainted by modernity. The image sells an idea of Poland along with its cigarettes. Editor: I never thought of trade cards as being so... layered! Curator: All images carry weight, especially those designed to persuade. Examining what’s included and, perhaps more importantly, what's omitted, unlocks their cultural meaning. I now see trade cards in a different light!