George Gordon Meade, from the Great Generals series (N15) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small portrait of General George Gordon Meade was produced by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company based in Richmond, Virginia. The image is from their “Great Generals” series. Consider the context: Cigarette cards like this one became popular in the late 19th century as a marketing strategy. What does it mean to elevate military figures to the level of popular icons? Note how the image, despite its small size, presents Meade in a dignified and heroic pose. It's crucial to remember that this card was produced in the South, decades after the Civil War. How might the memory of that conflict, and the complex process of reconciliation, shape the way viewers at the time would have understood this image of a Union general? To understand such issues, we might consult popular periodicals, company records, and other primary sources. The meaning of a work of art always depends on the social and institutional context in which it was made and viewed.