China, from the Types of All Nations series (N24) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This small chromolithograph titled "China" was part of a series of collectible cards produced by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company. The card’s composition directs our gaze immediately to the figure’s face, framed by a backdrop of elaborate gold patterns. The person's skin is rendered with a subtle palette of fleshy pinks and browns, contrasted by the cool, muted blue of the clothing. Texturally, the smooth face is a counterpoint to the ornate, almost baroque, detailing in the background. These cards were intended to exoticize and categorize people from different nations, turning them into types. Through this lens, what is presented as a portrait becomes a form of classification, subtly imposing a structure that essentializes identity. Consider how the formal elements – the composition, the contrasting textures, and the use of color – contribute to this act of cultural codification, inviting us to question the politics of representation embedded within such seemingly innocuous objects.