Officer Cossacks of the Don, Russia, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company produced this chromolithograph in 1886 as part of a series of collectible cards to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It depicts an officer of the Don Cossacks in Russia. During the late 19th century, the Russian Empire expanded its reach through military campaigns, and the Cossacks played a crucial role as frontiersmen and soldiers. Their image became romanticized as symbols of strength, loyalty, and tradition. These figures, however, had a complex relationship with the Russian state, often serving as instruments of imperial power while simultaneously maintaining a degree of autonomy. This commercial card participates in a form of cultural representation that catered to Western fascination with the exotic 'other.' Note how such images often circulated during periods of intense colonial activity, shaping perceptions and reinforcing power dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized. It invites us to consider the emotional and cultural impact of such representations, and their historical role in constructing identities.