Plantation, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This chromolithograph from 1889 depicts a black woman in a colorful, striped dress, performing a "Plantation" dance, a style of dance popularized during the 19th century. This card is part of a larger series of 50 cards, "National Dances," issued by the Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company. These cards were given out to smokers and featured a range of diverse people from all walks of life. This particular image is a representation of the "Plantation" style of dance, a type of performance often associated with the antebellum South. It is an example of the way in which popular culture and commercial interests intersected in the late 19th century.