Brazil, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph of the Brazilian flag was produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand. These cards, distributed in the late 19th century, speak volumes about the cultural milieu of the time. Consider how the representation of national identity was packaged and sold alongside tobacco, a commodity often associated with colonial exploitation and global trade imbalances. The company Allen & Ginter were based in Richmond, Virginia, which, after the Civil War, saw itself as the capital of the New South. But what does it mean to create identity and culture around something as fraught as cigarettes? How do we reconcile the aesthetics of nationalism with the realities of commerce and health? This image invites us to reflect on the complex layers of identity, commerce, and representation inherent in something as seemingly straightforward as a flag. It calls for an examination of the power structures at play in shaping perceptions of nationhood and culture, while prompting us to confront the uncomfortable truths embedded in our collective history.