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

Editor: This is "Versailles, from the City Flags series" by Allen & Ginter, a print from 1887. It kind of reminds me of a baseball card because of its size. But instead of an athlete, we see a rendering of the Palace of Versailles! What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the way it simplifies and packages an image of power for mass consumption. Allen & Ginter weren't just selling cigarettes; they were selling a curated vision of the world, associating their brand with established centers of wealth and influence. Consider the choice of Versailles – a potent symbol of monarchy at a time when republican ideals were spreading. What does including this suggest about their target audience? Editor: That’s a good question. Perhaps they wanted to project an image of sophistication, or connect the smoker to luxury goods like Versailles itself? The composition also seems a bit… caricatured, maybe? Curator: Precisely. The miniaturization and stylization, likely influenced by *ukiyo-e*, democratize an exclusive image. Versailles becomes a collectible commodity. The imagery is controlled, managed, to cultivate desire. How do you see that affecting our perception of it? Editor: I guess it’s making Versailles into something collectible and kind of flattening its actual political significance. A packaged idea rather than the actual place and history. Curator: Exactly! We are not necessarily invited to reflect on the complexities of French history or the social implications of royal extravagance. This commercial art flattens and re-presents them in an easy and appealing form. Editor: That makes sense. It really is interesting to think about how marketing can change what we see, or what we are meant to see. Thanks! Curator: A crucial point. Thinking about images, how they’re circulated and framed, reveals so much about our cultural values and priorities. Thanks for your insight.