Nippon, from the Dancing Girls of the World series (N185) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Editor: So, this print is called "Nippon" from the "Dancing Girls of the World" series, created around 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. I’m struck by how it exoticizes Japanese culture; what's your take? Curator: Indeed. It’s crucial to recognize this image within the context of 19th-century Orientalism and Japonisme. This wasn't about understanding Japanese culture, but about reframing it through a Western lens, often to reinforce existing power structures. What message do you think this image sends? Editor: It seems to be reinforcing stereotypes and maybe contributing to a fascination with the "exotic other," portraying the woman in a way that might be considered hyper-sexualized by today’s standards. Curator: Exactly. These images were often created as collectible cards included with tobacco products. So, how does knowing this, the fact that it was circulated as advertising, impact your interpretation? Editor: That adds a whole other layer. It shows how pervasive these skewed representations were and how deeply ingrained they became in the popular imagination. I guess I never thought about tobacco companies pushing cultural viewpoints like that. Curator: Precisely. We see the influence of social hierarchies, commodification of culture, and the exoticism of the East – all interwoven in a single image meant to sell tobacco. We must see how historical context shapes our perceptions, then and now. Editor: Wow, I’ll definitely look at these kinds of images differently from now on. There's more to it than just pretty colors and designs. Curator: That's right. Questioning these visual narratives is the first step to dismantling the legacies of colonialism and misrepresentation.