Heir to the Throne of Chumbiri, Africa, from the Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers series (N189) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

Editor: This is a piece from 1888 by William S. Kimball & Company, titled "Heir to the Throne of Chumbiri, Africa." It's part of a series of prints depicting chiefs and rulers, rendered in a kind of portrait style on what looks like toned paper. It's strikingly formal, almost like a royal portrait, but then the 'Savage and Semi-Barbarous' bit feels jarring and loaded, right? What do you make of this portrait and that particularly odd framing, given the time it was made? Curator: Oh, that title crawls right under your skin, doesn't it? It’s easy to see the layers of problematic exoticism. Think about the late 19th century and the peak of European colonialism. This image, intended for a tobacco card, probably served to both titillate and reassure a Western audience of its perceived superiority. The "Heir" is meticulously drawn – see the detail in his braided hair, the hint of pride in his posture? And then bam! That crude, dehumanizing label. It’s a calculated dissonance. Editor: So, it's almost like they're trying to have it both ways? To depict this person with respect but ultimately reinforcing a racist worldview? Curator: Precisely. And that profile pose – deliberately classical, associating him with ancient rulers, yet presented within this "savage" framework. Tell me, what does the visible ornamentation suggest to you? The golden trinket? Editor: It feels like a mix of genuine adornment, but also something intended to signal status that's perhaps been misunderstood or misinterpreted. I get this feeling it’s more about reinforcing a Western fantasy. Curator: A Western fantasy built on the backs of othered realities... I wonder, does this image prompt you to research Chumbiri, to learn the actual story? Editor: Definitely. It really highlights the power of images, how they can be beautiful and incredibly misleading at the same time. The artistic style is lovely and dignified, but that title throws a shadow over the whole thing. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps that tension is precisely what makes it a worthwhile, if troubling, piece to engage with today.