Baden, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1890

Curator: Here we have “Baden, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands,” dating to 1890. It’s currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Editor: Oh, the piece has such a striking regal quality. It feels compact but full of implied power, particularly in that red and yellow color palette. The design of the background seems like something you would see repeated on a teacup. Curator: It is fascinating how this imagery circulated—as a trade card insert within cigarette packs produced by Allen & Ginter. In some ways, it democratizes the heraldic symbolism previously only found within aristocratic circles, no? This flag with the Griffin connects with broader mythological symbolisms about power, guardianship, and sovereignty, stretching back into classical antiquity. Editor: I agree with that democratizing notion. It’s advertising employing the symbolism of empire—a little piece of accessible status packaged with nicotine. A bit perverse when you consider the imperial projects funded directly from that trade. Baden, while geographically small, certainly was wrapped up in the political machinations of the time. I see layers of obscured privilege. Curator: I see that as well! It is amazing how this compact work opens out, touching upon imperialism, political maneuvering, consumerism, even the commodification of iconography. Baden and the flag represent historical complexities made palatable through stylized aesthetics and a mass produced print. Editor: Precisely! The design streamlines potent cultural referents to suit capitalist enterprise. The way history gets processed through art never ceases to fascinate. Curator: Indeed! In considering how these archetypes manifest across generations, we witness transformations within shared cultural narratives—their persistence, alteration, or reinvention according to particular zeitgeists. Thank you, I will continue to explore these images through that historical frame. Editor: It's been a rewarding, if disquieting, journey. Thanks for helping unpack the complicated history embedded in what seems like just a pretty little flag.