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

Editor: So, this is "Tunis, from Flags of All Nations" made around 1890 by Allen & Ginter. It seems to be a print made from watercolor and colored pencils. The flag really dominates the scene; it makes me think of exotic travels. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see layers of cultural encoding, typical of its time. That red flag with the star and crescent, seemingly simple, speaks volumes about Tunisian identity as it was constructed and consumed in the late 19th century through Western eyes. What feelings does the symbol of the flag itself conjure for you? Editor: It feels…bold? But also a little romanticized, I guess? The scene below it, with the people and camels, seems to support that romantic idea. Curator: Exactly! This image, part of a series included in cigarette packs, taps into the era's fascination with the "Orient," presenting a vision of Tunis as a distant, alluring place. The flag becomes a signifier of that exoticism, packaged and sold alongside a product. And what of the choice to showcase the Tunisian flag specifically? Editor: Perhaps flags themselves had become a type of collectible symbol? Like emblems representing faraway lands. Curator: Precisely! Flags encapsulate national pride and identity, transforming cultural complexity into easily digestible visual shorthand. This little card reveals much about cultural exchange, consumerism, and the power of images to shape perceptions. Editor: This was such an informative deep dive! It really gave me a whole new way to look at something as simple as a cigarette card. Curator: Indeed! Even the most seemingly mundane images hold cultural significance, if you know where to look. It encourages one to think about how cultures see and represent each other.