Com., Paris Militia, 14th Century, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This late 19th-century card by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company depicts a member of the 14th-century Paris Militia. The figure is adorned with symbols that resonate with a rich history of martial and cultural identity. Notice the cape, embellished with circular motifs. These patterns might seem merely decorative, yet they echo the ancient fascination with the wheel as a symbol of power, destiny, and cyclical time. Think of the Celtic cross, or even the sun wheel found in Bronze Age petroglyphs. In each case, the wheel embodies a journey, a transformation. Observe the juxtaposition of the swords, emblems of justice and authority. They recur across centuries. Their reappearance evokes a collective memory of past conflicts and triumphs, stirring subconscious notions of protection and dominance. These elements engage viewers on a deep level, connecting us to ancestral memories of social order and conflict. Thus, the symbols in this image participate in a non-linear progression, constantly resurfacing and evolving, carrying echoes of past and present.