Jarabe, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This is a Jarabe, a lithograph from the ‘National Dances’ series, issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. These cards were distributed as collectables with cigarette packs. It depicts a man in the midst of performing the Jarabe, a traditional Mexican folk dance now known as the Jarabe Tapatío, which is the national dance of Mexico. The dance originated as a symbol of rebellion against Spanish colonizers. Notice how the dancer’s clothing blends elements of Spanish and Indigenous dress. The settlers tried to suppress Indigenous culture, but this dance helped to maintain cultural identity and traditions. The Jarabe is now a symbol of national pride, often performed during patriotic celebrations. The Kinney Brothers were an American tobacco company, active in a period where cultural appropriation was used to market products. This image participates in a long history of representing other cultures through the lens of the dominant culture. Although on the surface the card is a celebration of Mexican culture, it flattens the culture into a one dimensional image. Consider the complexities of cultural exchange and representation that this card embodies. How does it feel to know that such a vibrant expression of cultural identity was once used to sell tobacco?