General Officer in Great Coat, United States Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a colour print from 1888 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, called “General Officer in Great Coat, United States Army, 1886.” It was included in their Military Series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It's striking how this portrait presents a military figure in such a… commercial context. What do you make of that contrast? Curator: The juxtaposition you noted is central to understanding this image. Cigarette cards like these weren't just innocent promotions; they actively participated in shaping and reinforcing societal ideals. Who gets to be a "hero," who represents "America," and how is that masculinity constructed and commodified? The date is also crucial. Reconstruction was ending, the Indian Wars were raging, and Jim Crow was tightening its grip. How do you think this image participates in those narratives? Editor: That’s fascinating. It hadn’t occurred to me how such a seemingly simple image could be entangled in so much. I see the image as more than just a portrait—it's a product, meant to sell a particular lifestyle. But also, the fact that it’s a *general*, he stands in for a whole system of power. Curator: Exactly! And what kind of power are we talking about? Whose interests are being protected? Consider who had access to "leisure" items like cigarettes at this time. Who could imagine themselves as part of that American image? What might this have signaled to immigrants? How did it promote imperialist aims? Editor: So it's not just about a general or a cigarette, it's about understanding power, class, and how these images uphold the status quo. Thank you for bringing a wider viewpoint. Curator: My pleasure. It’s vital to unpack these layers to really understand the impact these images had and still have. They subtly normalized ideologies that shaped—and continue to shape—our society.