Portugal, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

This small chromolithograph of 'Portugal' was produced as a cigarette card by the Abdul Cigarette Company around the turn of the century. The company issued these cards in series as collectible items, and this is from their 'Races of Mankind' set. The image shows a young woman, presumably intended to represent a typical Portuguese person. She is fair-skinned with brown hair and eyes and wears a red headscarf and jewelry. The image uses visual codes and cultural references to construct an idea of Portuguese identity. In doing so, it reflects the scientific racism that was prevalent at the time. The card presents a simplified, stereotypical view of a complex nation and people. It was made at a time when European nations were consolidating power through colonial expansion. As a historian, I find these images fascinating as they offer a window into the social attitudes and institutional structures of the time. They remind us of the importance of contextualizing art within its historical, social, and political environment.