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

Editor: So this is "Iceland, from Flags of All Nations," created in 1890 by Allen & Ginter, made using watercolor and print. I find it so interesting that a cigarette brand would create art like this. What stands out to you? Curator: The flag dominates the image, but notice how it interacts with the Icelandic landscape depicted below. The golden crossed arrows – do they suggest exploration or perhaps a more martial aspect? And "KCH," emblazoned on the flag, likely represented a particular brand within the company, using national identity for marketing. This illustrates a very interesting early form of globalization. What do you make of the landscape? Editor: I noticed the ship sailing among icebergs. The seals relaxing nearby give a sense of the Arctic, but I guess I had never considered the relationship of national identity, Iceland's flag, and commodities like cigarettes. Curator: Exactly. The seals are intriguing. In many cultures, seals carry symbolic weight – resilience, adaptability, a connection to the sea. How does their presence change the overall impression? Editor: It's like a bridge, perhaps. It feels as though the animals root the commercial identity of the flag to a specific place, like saying that smoking the company's cigarettes somehow puts you closer to that place. Curator: Precisely! The company's image became intertwined with the identity and associations of Iceland. Cigarettes promised not only pleasure but also a piece of Iceland itself, which, let’s remember, many people may have only imagined through images like these. I am struck how potent symbols, landscape, and branding created meaning. Editor: This artwork certainly illustrates that products have symbolic weight well beyond what's advertised! Curator: I concur, and understanding these visual narratives deepens our perception of consumer culture.