Charles Cornwallis, from the Great Generals series (N15) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph, part of a series of Great Generals for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, presents Charles Cornwallis, a figure of British military history. Note the golden lion, crowned, a heraldic symbol that speaks to themes of courage, nobility, and royalty. Such symbols are not confined to British heraldry; the lion appears across cultures and epochs, from ancient Mesopotamian art to the Lion Gate of Mycenae, each instance echoing primal notions of power and dominance. Here, in the context of Cornwallis, it evokes the might of the British Empire. Yet, consider the psychological tension: this symbol, intended to inspire awe, might also provoke a sense of subjugation in those who view it through the lens of colonial history. The crown atop the lion transforms what was once a symbol of leadership into one associated with Imperial power, which is not always a positive association. Thus, the image becomes a potent site of memory, stirring conflicting emotions rooted in history.