Field Artillery, Germany, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company produced this lithograph in 1886 as part of the Military Series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. This image reflects the intense nationalism of late 19th-century Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm I. The figure represents a soldier in the field artillery, a branch of the army crucial for projecting power and maintaining control. His elaborate uniform, complete with a spiked helmet, symbolizes the might and discipline of the German military. These were tools used to project authority, a visual embodiment of the state's ambition. The artist emphasizes the soldier's upright posture and stern expression, reinforcing an image of strength and readiness. These cards were not just advertisements; they were cultural artifacts that shaped perceptions of national identity and military service. They invite us to consider how such images contribute to the narratives of power and masculinity that pervade our society. They also leave us questioning the emotional cost of these performances of strength.