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

Curator: Look at this small, but evocative, print entitled "Jarabe, from National Dances", part of a series issued in 1889 by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company. The print uses colored pencil and watercolor and is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Hmm, it's got a lovely sense of motion, doesn't it? Makes me wanna kick up my heels and join in... it feels like a fleeting glimpse, like she’s about to spin right out of the frame. Curator: Indeed! The print reflects the popular 19th-century interest in portraying different cultures. It depicts a woman performing a "Jarabe," a traditional Mexican dance. I can see its connection to Ukiyo-e through similar stylized depiction, as well as in other genre paintings capturing everyday life and cultural traditions. This piece can prompt us to question representation, cultural exchange, and the politics of looking. Editor: So, it’s more than just a pretty dancer. Though I am drawn to the earthy red of her skirt against that somewhat faded golden background. Gives it a sort of… vintage glow, y'know? The colors really pop for something so old. And that fan! She's owning that dance. Curator: Precisely! Examining its production context as an advertisement also helps us consider the use of cultural imagery to sell products, raising important discussions about commodification, exoticism, and the representation of national identities. This sort of commercial application also speaks to art's accessibility. Editor: Art to sell tobacco... that's so bizarre! But somehow it fits, doesn't it? Like art sneaking into everyday life disguised as, well, smoking! Maybe there’s some weird beauty in that, you know? Curator: Well said. This work provides an opportunity to consider how commercial art reflects societal values and the consumption of cultural difference, highlighting tensions inherent in representation. Editor: Definitely gives you something to chew on, even if you don't smoke, right? Curator: Exactly! Thank you for adding such color to our analysis. Editor: My pleasure, I learned some pretty deep things from a little picture on a card... Go figure!