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

This small card titled "Corsica" was created by Allen & Ginter as part of the "City Flags" series to market cigarettes. These cards capture a moment in time when the rise of mass media and industrial production intersected with European colonialism. The imagery presents a romanticized view of Corsica, likely shaped by European fantasies and power dynamics. The inclusion of a local man and a landscape, neatly packaged within the brand, reduces a region’s complex identity to a consumable image. It encourages us to reflect on the ways in which commercial products can subtly reinforce and disseminate cultural stereotypes. Who has the authority to represent whom? And how are these representations tied to broader histories of colonialism and power? The emotional impact of this card lies in its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a distant place, even as it perpetuates unequal power structures.