Colonel, 10th Regiment, Massachusetts, V.M., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, “Colonel, 10th Regiment, Massachusetts, V.M.,” was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of an advertising series for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The colonel is depicted in a formal and erect pose, his figure constructed with careful attention to the geometric forms of his uniform. The composition is dominated by the verticality of the figure, reinforced by the rigid lines of his coat and the alignment of buttons. Note how the artist plays with color to denote hierarchy; the gold trim and red sash create a visual code of authority and status. The flatness of the printing technique reduces depth, emphasizing surface and pattern, turning the colonel into an emblem or symbol rather than an individual. This blending of military portraiture with commercial advertising demonstrates how cultural values were being commodified and circulated, challenging our conventional categories of art and commerce. The artwork invites us to examine how visual elements work to construct and convey meaning within specific social contexts.