A Short History of General Braxton Bragg, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 1888

This small lithograph was produced around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for their tobacco products. The structure of the card is segmented, combining a portrait of General Braxton Bragg with images of soldiers and foliage. The composition, with its division into distinct visual zones, reflects a structuralist approach to representation. Each segment operates as a signifier: Bragg’s portrait signifies leadership, the soldiers signify conflict, and the foliage suggests the natural world, all framed by the explicit commercial message. The semiotic system at play positions Bragg within a narrative of nature, history, and consumerism. This layering of signs creates a complex text that invites interpretation on multiple levels, reflecting how visual culture is always mediated by broader social and economic forces. The card’s aesthetic arrangement is not merely decorative, but functions as a carefully constructed discourse on identity, history, and commerce.