William Fly, Lashing a Prisoner, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

'William Fly, Lashing a Prisoner' was produced by Allen & Ginter, as part of their 'Pirates of the Spanish Main' series of cigarette cards. These cards, printed on paper, were churned out on an industrial scale as promotional material. They are chromolithographs, meaning that the image is created by layering multiple colors from different stones or plates. It was a cheap but effective method of image reproduction. The card speaks volumes about labor practices – both in its own making, and in its subject. The image is a fantasy of pirate life, focused on violence and hierarchy. Note the contrast between the stern-faced Captain Fly in the foreground, and the prisoner being whipped in the background. Both figures are caught in a system of forced labor, one imposing it and the other enduring it. Ultimately, the card itself is a small, mass-produced artifact, speaking to a complex web of labor, consumption, and representation. By considering these factors, we understand how it transcends the boundary between image and everyday life.