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

This chromolithograph, "Schwyz", was one of a series of cards issued by the American tobacco company, William S. Kimball & Co. In the late 19th century, the advent of color printing enabled mass-produced images to circulate widely. This card, part of a series called "Dancing Girls of the World," represents a romanticized view of global cultures. We see a woman in traditional Swiss attire set against an idealized mountain landscape, a visual shorthand for the picturesque and "authentic." The image creates meaning through visual codes. The dancer's costume signifies a particular regional identity, while the act of dancing suggests celebration and tradition. But we should consider the politics of imagery here. How does the commodification of culture in this context reflect broader imperial attitudes? What does it mean to represent foreign cultures as consumable images? Understanding this image means diving into the social and economic conditions of the late 19th century, including the rise of consumer culture and the expansion of American industry. Archival research into trade cards and advertising ephemera can tell us more about the cultural values circulating at the time.