Irish, Moss Gatherer, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This small lithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, presents an “Irish, Moss Gatherer.” The bonnet and basket are key. The bonnet, framing the face, echoes the veils of sacred figures, yet here it serves a more quotidian purpose. The basket, overflowing with moss, is equally significant. This humble material speaks volumes about the labor and life of rural Irish women. We see echoes of this motif in images of women carrying baskets of fruit or grain across cultures and eras, from ancient harvest festivals to Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The image presents the moss gatherer with a subtle smile, conveying a sense of resilience and connection to the land. It is an idealized, romantic vision, yet it also engages with deeper, archetypal themes of womanhood, nature, and the cyclical rhythms of life. Though mass-produced, it touches upon these enduring symbols, sparking a response rooted in our collective visual memory.