French, Country, from World's Dudes series (N31) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was made by Allen & Ginter, an American cigarette company, as part of their "World's Dudes" series. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing tactic, and this one depicts what was perceived by the American market as a stereotypical French countryman. The figure's garb, including the wooden shoes, red neckerchief and top hat, is meant to signify his Frenchness. The cigarette hanging out of his mouth is a further signifier of this national identity. These visual codes rely on the cultural idea of a "dude" in the late 19th century, which meant a fashionable man, and also an ironic or mocking way to refer to someone. The card is a product of its time, reflecting American cultural attitudes towards France and smoking habits, as well as marketing and consumer culture. Through visual ephemera, the social historian can study the construction of national identity, and stereotypes.