Persia, from the International Cards series (N238), issued by Kinney Bros. 1888

Editor: This small print, titled "Persia, from the International Cards series," was created in 1888 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The materials seem to be watercolor and print. The work has an ornamental quality. How should we interpret this piece, situated within its time? Curator: Well, it's critical to recognize that this piece operates within the visual language of Orientalism, a Western approach to depicting "the East" that often exoticizes and simplifies complex realities. How does this image, intended as part of a collectible card series, perpetuate certain ideas about Persia and its ruler? Editor: It feels almost like a caricature, with its emphasis on ornamentation and its simplified portrayal of the Shah. The radiant Lion and Sun symbol adds to the romantic, almost fairytale-like image. Curator: Exactly. Consider who these cards were made for: consumers in the West. The "Persia" represented here is designed to fit Western expectations and desires, reinforcing a power dynamic. It flattens the diversity and complexity of Persian culture into a marketable image. What does it mean when a tobacco company profits from distributing these representations? Editor: It points to the entanglement of commerce, cultural representation, and colonialism. These images were clearly made to sell a product and create a sense of the exotic Other. I hadn’t fully considered how a simple collectible card could carry so much baggage. Curator: Precisely. By understanding these dynamics, we can see how art and visual culture can reinforce power structures and affect perceptions across cultures, and also consider how this card relates to colonial enterprises and trade. Editor: This conversation made me reconsider what it meant to collect them back in the days. It’s fascinating how one small image encapsulates complex issues of representation and power.