General, Belgium, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

The Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company created this small lithograph card to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. A Belgian general is rendered with a formal rigidity, his figure centered against an abstract, radiating gold backdrop. Notice how the composition isolates the general, emphasizing his uniform and erect posture which implies authority. The artist creates visual interest with contrasting colors: the dark blue of the jacket against the light peach of the trousers, and the striking red sash across his chest. These aren’t just aesthetic choices; they are coded symbols of military rank and national identity. The card uses semiotics, where the general's attire and bearing function as signs that communicate status and power. The image taps into cultural codes associated with military prowess and national pride, prevalent at the time. Through its formal construction, the lithograph presents a structured image of command, reflecting the cultural values and perhaps the imperial ambitions of the era.