4th Regiment, Cuirassiers, Russia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small lithograph of the 4th Regiment Cuirassiers of Russia was made around the turn of the 20th century by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image's appearance is largely determined by its purpose as a mass-produced commercial product. Lithography allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction, making it ideal for distributing images to a wide audience. The flat, graphic style, bold colors, and simplified details were well-suited to the printing process and ensured legibility on a small scale. The choice of subject matter – a uniformed military figure – reflects the period's fascination with military power and national identity, which the tobacco company used to associate its brand with a sense of authority. While this collectible card might seem far removed from the world of fine art, it shares with it a concern for aesthetics, representation, and the communication of cultural values. The lithograph invites us to consider the complex interplay between art, commerce, and society.