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

This small card depicting a cannon and its operator is part of the ‘Arms of All Nations’ series, issued by Allen & Ginter, manufacturers of cigarette cards. Notice how the composition is structured around horizontal lines: the cannon itself, the wall, the distant horizon. These lines create a sense of stability, almost defiance, which contrasts with the implied violence of the weapon. The sharp, receding lines and the close-up of the cannon, combined with the red uniform, creates a sense of urgency. This tension between form and content suggests a deeper cultural dynamic. The card, seemingly promoting national pride and military might, also reveals a kind of anxiety about the destructive potential of such power. This conflation of commerce, nationalism, and military imagery, presented in a neat, collectible format, invites us to reflect on how cultural values and ideological messages are often embedded within the everyday objects that surround us.