Rhode Island, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph of Rhode Island comes from a series of cigarette cards produced by Allen & Ginter, a tobacco company, around the late 19th century. These cards, collected and traded, offer a glimpse into the era's cultural values and its complex relationship with identity and representation. The flag, emblazoned with an anchor and the word "Hope", flutters above a scene that romanticizes the state's landscape. Yet, the figures in the foreground, presumably engaged in labor, lack distinct features, and are reduced to types. This raises questions about whose stories are being told and whose are being erased. The card's existence as a promotional item for cigarettes also points to the era's lax attitudes towards health and addiction, reflecting a society grappling with the consequences of industrialization and consumerism. While seemingly benign, this card encapsulates the tensions between progress and exploitation, visibility and erasure, that continue to shape our understanding of American identity.