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

This small chromolithograph from the late 19th century was made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company and was included in packs of cigarettes. It is part of a series called 'National Dances'. The image presents an example of the orientalist craze that swept the western world at this time. The Greek Waltz is a romanticized vision of a dancing woman in traditional Greek costume. But it's important to remember the context in which it was produced. This was a time of intense imperial expansion, and images like this one helped to create a sense of exoticism around non-Western cultures, making them seem both fascinating and inferior. The image is also interesting from an institutional perspective. It shows how art was being used to sell products and how tobacco companies were using images of other cultures to appeal to consumers. Looking closely at such images, and understanding their place within a wider cultural and institutional context, we can appreciate how they reflect power dynamics and the politics of representation. Resources in archives, libraries and museums help us to understand better the intentions and effects of the historical image.