Warrior, Europe, 4th Century, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

"Warrior, Europe, 4th Century" is a chromolithograph card, dating back to around 1888, produced by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards were a commercial strategy to boost sales, coinciding with the rise of mass media and advertising. This image, one of fifty in a military series, represents a 4th-century European warrior, an era marked by migrations and conflicts. The card exoticizes the figure. It is adorned in what the Kinney Brothers thought a warrior would look like. The details of his dress, from the helmet to the weaponry, reflect a romanticized, rather than historically accurate, depiction. This representation of a warrior taps into then-contemporary cultural narratives. The distribution of these cards happened in a time when tobacco companies were starting to have to address labor and safety issues. Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company attempted to present an image of strength and tradition. The image raises questions about the relationship between commerce, cultural identity, and historical representation.