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

Editor: So this lithograph, created in 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., is called "A Short History of General Nathaniel P. Banks." It seems almost like a trading card. I'm struck by its colorful depiction of a serious subject. How do you interpret the combination of portrait and military scene? Curator: Trading cards, yes, meant to be collected, traded… fleeting glimpses into history. And “Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco” bankrolling it all – the smell of American enterprise! What grabs me is this General’s double life portrayed, isn’t it? Editor: Double life? Curator: Precisely! Banks wasn’t just a General; before the war, he was a mill worker, a lawyer, and even a Shakespearean actor! And look – the stiff portrait versus that impressionistic Civil War snapshot to the right. Notice how both images seem equally vivid. Which makes you wonder – is he remembering a past stage performance or perhaps a battlefield memory, perhaps in Louisiana where he unfortunately lost a great many lives. Editor: So it’s like a highlight reel of his life, packaged as tobacco propaganda. I guess I hadn't considered the propaganda aspect. Curator: Exactly! But the beauty is, beyond the sales pitch, a fragile echo of history remains. What else do you see in his face? Does he appear brave or a bit melancholic? Editor: I think he looks fairly melancholic now that you mention his political rise and war effort, his triumphs, as well as struggles. I really didn't consider what the artist was thinking about General Banks' expression! Thanks! Curator: Indeed! That slight air of longing…Perhaps the man’s just thinking, ‘Another day, another battle, another cigar!’