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

This small card, issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, presents us with a so-called "Moorish" man. His headwear, a turban, immediately signals an exotic otherness, a marker deeply rooted in centuries of cultural exchange and conflict. The turban, ubiquitous across various Islamic cultures, carries diverse meanings, from religious piety to social status. Here, it evokes a sense of the Orient, filtered through a Western gaze. Remember how, during the Renaissance, turbans frequently appeared in depictions of the Three Magi, linking exoticism with wisdom and reverence? Yet, the commercial context of this card shifts the meaning. This image engages with the complex dance between representation and cultural memory. The turban, laden with historical and religious significance, is now a mere symbol, repurposed to sell tobacco. This appropriation echoes through history, a constant cycle of cultural symbols being reinterpreted. Just as ancient gods were reborn in new forms, this motif resurfaces, shaped by the ever-changing currents of cultural perception.