Bordeaux, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card titled "Bordeaux" is from the City Flags series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition divides into two distinct registers, each framed by a decorative border. The upper portion depicts the flag of Bordeaux, with its heraldic imagery rendered in miniature. Notice the careful arrangement of colors and symbols—the lion, the castle, all precisely placed. Below, the architectural view presents a cathedral with its soaring spires, evoking a sense of civic pride. As a commodity, this card functioned within a network of signs, using cultural symbols to enhance brand appeal. This piece reflects how objects of art interact with commerce, employing flags and architecture to create a sense of place and identity. Consider how the formal elements here—the division of space, the use of symbols—work not just aesthetically but also as part of a much larger discourse about trade and representation.