Saltarello, from National Dances (N225, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This is a 'Saltarello' trading card from the 'National Dances' series, printed by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company in the late 19th century. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, reflecting a time when advertising was becoming increasingly intertwined with daily life and cultural representation. The card depicts a woman in stylized 'Italian' garb performing the Saltarello, a lively folk dance. Consider the layers of representation: an American company profiting from the romanticized image of another culture. What does it mean to commodify cultural identity? The dancer’s costume, while vibrant, simplifies and perhaps exoticizes Italian tradition. It invites us to reflect on how cultural symbols are often extracted and re-presented, sometimes losing their original depth and significance. These cards offer insight into the complex exchange between commerce, cultural identity, and popular imagination. It asks us to consider the ways in which our understanding of different cultures is constructed and sometimes distorted through media.