Sergeant, 3rd Gatling Battery, National Guard of the State of New York, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Curator: What a striking image! This print, dating from 1888, is part of a series issued by Kinney Tobacco Company. It's titled "Sergeant, 3rd Gatling Battery, National Guard of the State of New York" and was used to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Editor: It’s like a flash of crimson on cardstock! I immediately key in on the intense reds of the sergeant’s uniform – they are impossible to ignore, grabbing the eye and hinting at the bravado, perhaps even the intensity, expected of him. Curator: Precisely! Kinney Brothers relied on this bravado to promote the Sweet Caporal brand, embedding patriotism, duty, and sophistication. If you purchased this particular cigarette, the association communicated suggests "status." But the print is more complex; consider how the sharp rendering conveys the weight and texture of the wool uniform. Editor: The detail for such a small piece! But the reliance on line and blocks of color really flattens the space. See how the figure is rigidly posed and frontal. I do detect the effort to portray him naturalistically in his military bearing – but ultimately, I perceive that this artwork has to prioritize representation within tight pictorial conventions rather than truly seeking naturalism. It’s not unlike many contemporaneous mass produced goods that rely upon clear signals rather than subtleties to gain rapid purchase with viewers. Curator: That's a smart read, and I completely agree with your interpretation. Notice that the use of linear elements adds visual definition. They give shape to forms that also denote volume – as evident by observing how various textures form in and through these methods: fabric’s sturdiness alongside the sheen emanating from metals; also noteworthy would-be color distinctions amongst surfaces reflecting the nuances presented throughout various terrains encountered during expeditions/engagements. What does the overall image communicate? Editor: The figure has a very stoic, very stiff air that borders almost caricature-like, particularly with the mustache…It does remind me about past empires during sunset…A time steeped in tradition mixed now with emerging anxieties about modern identities…A time of both pomp but still, fragility Curator: Absolutely! The portrait freezes him at that precise historical juncture: an intersection among worlds…One wonders about the kind of narratives the buyers conceived, with one breath clinging at ideals but facing shifting foundations… Editor: An evocative, albeit somewhat frozen, echo, preserved between shades within colored cardboard!