Mace, from the Arms of All Nations series (N3) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This chromolithograph shows a medieval knight, part of Allen & Ginter's "Arms of All Nations" series. The knight, wielding a mace, sits atop a white horse, shield raised, ready for battle. The composition is dominated by the central figure, whose armor and heraldic shield are rendered in bold reds, blues, and yellows. The artist uses a dense, almost stippled texture to create depth and evoke a sense of historical texture. This technique contrasts with the smooth, flat background, pushing the knight forward in the pictorial space. The use of symmetry in the knight's pose—mace raised on one side, shield on the other—creates a balanced, almost heraldic image. The limited color palette, combined with the intricate detail, positions the image somewhere between historical record and commercial art. It invites us to consider how images can shape our understanding of history and national identity.