Mark Smith as Hindoo of Southern Deccan, Asia, from the set Actors and Actresses, Second Series (N71) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1890

Editor: Here we have "Mark Smith as Hindoo of Southern Deccan, Asia," a trade card from around 1890 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., using colored pencil and print. The subject matter is what startles me at first: this isn't just a portrait, it’s a costumed performance of an identity. What's your take on it? Curator: Oh, absolutely, you’ve hit upon the very core! These trade cards…they were tiny windows into a world perceived through a very specific lens. Think about the era – burgeoning interest in the ‘exotic,’ fueled by colonial narratives and dime novels. This is cultural appropriation in full bloom, wouldn’t you agree? I wonder about the audience... did they see past the performance, past the Orientalist fantasy? Did they question who profited from it? Editor: Probably not enough! The "Hindoo" label flattens a whole diverse population into a stereotype. It makes me consider how art is involved in the historical production of fake identities. What do you find interesting in the way the artist rendered the image itself? Curator: Indeed. Now, the artistry itself is rather interesting, isn’t it? The way the colors pop, almost hyperreal in a way. Japonisme was a strong influence at the time, influencing everything, even the way advertisements were created. And tell me, how do the subject’s eyes strike you? Editor: A bit vacant, if I'm honest. Detached. Like he's just playing a role. Curator: Exactly! There is an uneasy feeling here. Perhaps that disconnect hints at something deeper, something about the uncomfortable realities of representation itself. This reinforces my opinion that art does more than reflect; it questions. Editor: Well, I definitely have much more to think about. It is interesting that something on a cigarette card has these layers for discussion today! Curator: Precisely! Now go and question everything you thought you knew...art and life both benefit.