Sailor's Hornpipe, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small lithograph, "Sailor's Hornpipe," was created by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The figure is a study in contrasts, using a playful composition to explore themes of identity and performance. Notice how the dancer's pose, with a tilted hat and jaunty stance, is both rigid and fluid. The sharp lines of the sailor's uniform are juxtaposed with the dancer's curved body, set against a muted background. The limited color palette—dominated by blues, whites, and browns—enhances the overall structure. This creates a visual rhythm that mirrors the lively dance it depicts. Kinney Brothers presents a figure caught between the precision of naval attire and the freedom of dance. What we see is not just a sailor but a performer embodying an idealized vision of maritime culture. The lithograph functions as a sign, inviting viewers to interpret the complex relationship between identity, representation, and cultural performance. The image, though small, opens onto a wider discourse about how we construct and perceive cultural identities through visual signs.