Irene Verona, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This color lithograph of Irene Verona, part of the "World's Beauties" series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, presents a curious case of cultural appropriation. The turban that adorns her head, a symbol deeply rooted in Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian cultures, here serves merely as an exotic fashion statement. The turban's rich history, signifying religious identity, status, or even protection, is flattened, becoming a mere accessory for Western consumption. This isn't an isolated incident; such appropriation echoes through time, from Delacroix's Orientalist fantasies to contemporary fashion trends. One could even argue that the commodification of Verona's image mirrors the historical exploitation of the regions from which the turban originates. The image evokes complex feelings, highlighting our tendency to reduce profound cultural symbols to superficial trends, all the while tapping into our shared memories. Symbols, like the turban, possess a life of their own, undergoing transformations, resurfacing, and accumulating layers of meaning.