Russian, Lady of Rank, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

Editor: Here we have “Russian, Lady of Rank,” a colored pencil drawing printed by Kinney Brothers in 1890. I am immediately struck by the delicacy of the portrait, it seems almost dreamlike in its softness and tone. What historical context informs this idealized portrayal? Curator: It's interesting you use the word "dreamlike." These small cards were actually trade cards, meant to be collected from cigarette packs, acting like little daydreams tucked amongst your tobacco. "Lady of Rank," as part of a larger series called "Types of Nationalities", presents a romanticized view, flavored with what we now call Orientalism – a Western fascination, often misinformed, with the ‘exotic’ East. Consider how her elaborate headdress is highlighted and emphasized, it's both captivating and perhaps a tad…fanciful. Do you feel it portrays a reality, or a fantasy? Editor: That is a wonderful question. I now believe this portrait feels less like an actual depiction, and more like an imagined ideal. It's like flipping through a vintage postcard rack; there's a definite constructed image. The ‘Lady of Rank’ becomes an idea of Russian identity viewed through a Western lens, packaged for popular consumption. It is like an instagram filter, or a snapshot memory. Curator: Exactly! Kinney Brothers were selling a lifestyle as much as tobacco. It also prompts a thought: what fantasies and idealizations are we consuming today? How has social media perhaps replaced these trade cards as carriers of cultural projection? Editor: Well, it definitely gives you a new perspective, or a different light in which to reflect on popular culture both past and present. Thanks so much! Curator: Indeed! Food for thought to chew over.