Neapolitan, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This is a lithograph titled 'Neapolitan, from National Dances (N225, Type 1)' made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The print depicts a woman in motion. She appears mid-dance, with a vibrant array of colours animating her figure against a muted background. The eye is drawn to the dynamic interplay of horizontal bands that adorn her costume and the scarf swirling above her head. These horizontal lines might reflect a semiotic system of signs, representing a cultural code. This reflects not just aesthetics but also a larger cultural discourse about identity. The lithograph destabilizes established meanings, inviting us to engage with new ways of thinking about representation and cultural exchange.