Mrs. James Brown Potter as a Fisherman's Wife Dressed in Sunday Clothes from the Village of Volandam, North Holland, from the set Actors and Actresses, Second Series (N71) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This small chromolithograph, made by W. Duke Sons & Co., presents Mrs. James Brown Potter dressed as a fisherman’s wife from Volendam, North Holland. These cards were included in cigarette packs, reflecting the late 19th century’s fascination with performers and exotic cultures. Here, Mrs. Potter, a wealthy American actress, is cast in the role of a humble Dutch woman. There's a definite tension between the real identity of the sitter and the costume she is wearing. While the image romanticizes a rural European life, it also underscores the power dynamics inherent in cross-cultural representation. How does it feel to see someone play dress-up with another culture's identity? These images remind us to consider the complexities of identity, performance, and the gaze, particularly when class and cultural lines are blurred. The actress’s adornment invites us to think about authenticity, privilege, and the performance of identity.