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

Allen & Ginter's 'Algiers', from the Types of All Nations series, presents us with a concentrated study in cultural representation, rendered on a diminutive scale. The composition is dominated by the figure's profile, her gaze directed inward, framed by a cascade of soft, draping fabric and an array of ornamental details. The palette is rich and warm, with ochre tones and muted reds, offset by the cool whites and blues of her headdress. The artist has employed a fine, almost miniaturist technique. Here, we see the interplay of exoticism and the structural constraints inherent in commercial art. The image is not merely a portrait, but a construction of identity, mediated through the lens of cultural expectation and commodification. The formal elements—the careful arrangement of line and color, the calculated use of detail—serve to reinforce a narrative of otherness, reflecting the complex dynamic between the viewer and the viewed.