Morocco, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

Editor: This is "Morocco, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9)" created in 1887 by Allen & Ginter as part of a series for their cigarette brand. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The graphic quality feels striking in its directness, using this bright, almost primary palette to render the Moroccan flag and the suggestion of an exotic locale. What do you make of it? Curator: Indeed. Initially, one notices the strategic deployment of color; the red of the flag commands attention, doesn’t it? Then, consider the frame: a stylized, ornate depiction, drawing upon architectural motifs of the Orient, that creates depth and anchors the flag to an imaginary scene beyond. Editor: The contrast between the foreground flag and the background is interesting; the flag seems almost cartoonish while the landscape appears delicate. What does the symbol on the flag suggest to you? Curator: It’s not immediately obvious what the scissors signify in this symbolic representation. I would contend, however, that our ability to decipher it is of secondary importance. The overall effect matters most. Observe how the texture of the flag and the careful repetition of geometric forms add to a harmonious, if somewhat artificial, aesthetic. Allen & Ginter were going for appeal over accuracy here. Editor: I see your point. The design seems focused on creating a particular visual impression rather than any realistic portrayal. So, do you think the effectiveness comes from the aesthetic choices more than the symbolic meaning? Curator: Precisely. The work uses form and composition to conjure a feeling. A formalist reading invites us to consider it a visual exercise in color, shape, and texture, rather than as a truthful depiction of a nation. Editor: I've never considered that cigarette cards can be analyzed from a purely formal perspective. Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: An engagement with formalism enables us to unearth latent intricacies; an aesthetic of empire packaged as something disposable, or so we assume at first glance.