Bella, from the Ballet Queens series (N182) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small chromolithograph from Wm. S. Kimball & Co.’s "Ballet Queens" series presents a figure adorned with the stars and stripes of the American flag. The symbology evokes themes of national identity and performance, but also points to the complexities of cultural expression. Consider how the stars and stripes, originally representing unity and liberty, are here adapted into a costume. This recasting calls to mind the allegorical figures of past eras, such as Britannia or Lady Liberty, who personified national ideals through symbolic dress. Yet, here, the flag is donned by a ballet dancer, shifting its weight toward spectacle and entertainment. One might also note how the use of national symbols in such contexts can be both celebratory and subtly subversive. This dance between reverence and reinterpretation echoes through history, continuously reshaping the emblems that bind societies together. Such images tap into our collective memory, stirring emotions and associations that lie deep within the cultural psyche.