Hindoo, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This chromolithograph, printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, presents a man, labeled “Hindoo,” as a type of nationality. He sports a turban, a symbol that historically signifies status, religious affiliation, or regional identity across various cultures, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East. Consider how head coverings have been used throughout history. From ancient civilizations to modern times, they have served as potent visual markers of identity. For example, the veiling of women in certain cultures carries layers of religious, social, and political meanings. Similarly, turbans can denote piety or communal belonging, although the symbolism is often simplified and homogenized in Western representations like this one. This image taps into a collective consciousness, perpetuating stereotypes and reducing complex cultural identities into easily digestible, often distorted, representations. The act of smoking, combined with the exoticized portrayal, speaks to underlying tensions and power dynamics, creating an image that persists, echoing through cultural memory in complicated ways.