Greece, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

Editor: Here we have "Greece, from the Races of Mankind series" by Abdul Cigarettes, created around 1881. It's a print, currently residing at the Met. The first thing that strikes me is the sheer character in this man’s face! What’s your take on this, what catches your eye? Curator: Well, it's like stumbling upon a wizened sage from another time. Immediately, the layering leaps out – not just of colors, but of textures, ideas… you know? This portrait encapsulates an idea of Greece manufactured by an early anthropological gaze, neatly packaged in a cigarette card! It’s quite uncanny. What does “Greece” even mean to Abdul Cigarettes here, I wonder? Editor: That's a good point; I hadn't thought of it like that. So, you’re saying the image might be more about what people *thought* Greece was like, rather than actual representation? Curator: Precisely! Consider the title "Races of Mankind"… The very premise suggests an outdated, potentially problematic, view of the world. He’s wearing an interesting fez-like hat, has highly ornamental embroidery on his shirt, a large fluffy beard, set against a faux-ancient patterned background – this is exoticism in overdrive! Editor: It makes you wonder about all the assumptions that went into creating this. I guess it’s easy to forget the lens through which people were viewing the world back then. Curator: It does, doesn’t it? Looking at this little card has opened up, at least for me, a whole history of how cultures are perceived, marketed, and even, well, consumed! Editor: This was really insightful. Thanks for shifting my perspective. It’s more than just a portrait; it’s a portal into a mindset.