Arabia, from the Dancing Girls of the World series (N185) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This lithograph was produced by the American company Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series of cigarette cards called ‘Dancing Girls of the World’. The image presents a romanticised vision of the ‘Orient’, a fantasy location constructed by Western artists and writers. Note how the figure’s costume is suggestive rather than specific, drawing on a range of visual cues to create a generalised impression of ‘Arabia’. This reflects the cultural norms of late 19th-century America, where such images helped to reinforce ideas about Western superiority and the exotic nature of other cultures. The card speaks to institutional histories of collecting and display, suggesting how museums have historically contributed to the construction and circulation of cultural stereotypes. As historians, we can challenge these stereotypes by uncovering the complex social, economic, and political forces that shaped their production. Through careful archival research, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, culture, and power.