Lance, from the Arms of All Nations series (N3) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This is a lithograph of a lancer on horseback, made in the United States as part of Allen & Ginter's Arms of All Nations series. These cards were included in cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. The image presents a romanticized view of military might, connecting the act of smoking with notions of global power and adventure. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies frequently used imagery that associated their products with virility and exploration, tapping into a sense of national pride and imperial ambition. Note the careful rendering of the soldier's uniform and the horse's musculature; these details conveyed a sense of authority. The series title suggests a comprehensive, even encyclopedic, view of global military strength, but it's important to remember that this representation is filtered through the lens of American commercial interests. The image provides a snapshot of the period's attitudes toward military power and consumerism. To understand it fully, we can consult advertising history archives and military history resources. This reminds us that art’s meaning shifts depending on its social and institutional setting.