Fiji, Dancing Girl, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This small chromolithograph titled "Fiji, Dancing Girl," was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series called "Types of Nationalities." These cards, distributed with tobacco products, were popular during the late 19th century, a period marked by increasing global trade and colonial expansion. The image captures a woman from Fiji, adorned in what are meant to be traditional attire and body paint, in the midst of a dance. While seemingly benign, these cards played a role in constructing and disseminating Western perceptions of other cultures, often exoticizing and stereotyping non-Western peoples. Her gaze meets ours, yet the image denies her agency, presenting her as a specimen of her "type" rather than an individual. The commercial purpose of the card, to sell tobacco, further underscores the exploitation inherent in these representations. Consider the emotional impact on someone from Fiji encountering this image today; it's a complex blend of recognition, misrepresentation, and historical erasure. This image serves as a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in representation and the importance of understanding the historical context in which images are created and consumed.