Soldier of Alpine Regiments, Italy, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is a chromolithograph, created in 1886 by the Kinney Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Chromolithography was an innovative printing technique that used multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color to create a multi-colored image. This mass production process allowed for the creation of affordable and widely distributed images, like this depiction of an Italian soldier. The image’s flat, graphic style and vibrant colors are characteristic of chromolithography, which was a popular method for advertising and commercial art in the late 19th century. The industrialization of printing made it possible to produce these cards quickly and in large quantities. This illustrates the intersection of art, commerce, and popular culture during the Industrial Revolution, where images like this became a common sight, blurring the lines between art and advertising, while also reflecting and shaping public perceptions of military figures and national identity.