President's Flag, United States, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886 - 1891

This is a trade card titled "President's Flag, United States," one of the Naval Flags series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Its compact composition presents a formal arrangement: the upper section displays a flag with an eagle emblem, while the lower features a portrait in a circular frame. The card juxtaposes national symbols with commerce. The flag, rendered in blue with stylized stars and an eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, represents the nation's ideals and power. The portrait, likely of a contemporary political figure, is framed within a circle, suggesting importance and valorization. The red, patterned background unifies these elements, creating a visual field that is both decorative and structured. This interplay between symbolic representation and commercial branding reflects the late 19th-century’s cultural landscape. The card's aesthetic choices challenge the conventional separation between fine art and everyday commercial objects, prompting us to consider how meaning is constructed and consumed.