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

"English Girl, from Types of Nationalities," a lithograph, was created by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company at a time when racial and national identity were being codified and commercialized. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, participated in the construction of stereotypes, reflecting and reinforcing prevailing social hierarchies. The "English Girl" embodies an idealized vision of white, European femininity, with her fair skin, rosy cheeks, and elaborate attire. Yet, the very act of categorizing people into "types" reveals the artificiality and limitations of such classifications. What does it mean to distill a person, a culture, a nation into a single image? How does this flatten the complexities of identity? Such images contributed to a broader cultural narrative that privileged certain groups while marginalizing others. Consider how these historical representations continue to shape our perceptions today, and the emotional weight of being seen—or unseen—through such a narrow lens.