Happy New Year, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This small, chromolithographic New Year card was printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company around 1890. At first glance, its narrative composition strikes the eye: A standing figure, adorned with the year '1890' on his hat, looks down at a fallen figure near a hat bearing '1889', all under the script 'Happy New Year.' The artist constructs a visual metaphor for the passage of time. The standing figure's upright posture and sword symbolize the arrival of the New Year as a figure of strength and authority. By contrast, the fallen figure, along with the discarded hat and sword, is suggestive of the end of the old year. The contrast between the figures and the years inscribed on the hats creates a semiotic system where the figures and their symbolic props tell a story about time. The card isn't just a greeting; it's a reflection on time's relentless march and the cultural codes with which we mark its passing. It invites continuous interpretation, where each viewer can project their understanding of time, change, and the cyclical nature of life.