Tobaggan, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 5) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This chromolithograph of a child on a toboggan was produced around 1888 by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company as a novelty card. Consider the hat, a symbol deeply rooted in human history, offering not only warmth but also signifying status and identity. Throughout the ages, hats have appeared in various forms, from the Phrygian cap, symbolising freedom in ancient times, to the elaborate headwear of Renaissance nobility. Even in our modern era, one sees the reappearance of hats, each variation indicating shifting social and cultural values. The image of the toboggan itself evokes the human desire for thrill and escape, a motif we can find in ancient Roman chariot races, or even the ecstatic dances of Dionysian cults. This yearning for liberation and excitement transcends time. The child's gaze conveys innocence and a sense of anticipation, a feeling that resonates with our own childhood memories. This sentimental appeal taps into a collective longing for simpler times, a powerful emotional undercurrent that invites viewers to reflect on their own histories. These emotional symbols invite us to trace the non-linear pathways of cultural memory.