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

This chromolithograph, printed by Kinney Bros., presents a 'Grecian' figure from their "Types of Nationalities" series. The most prominent symbol is the red fez-like cap atop the man's head, a signifier of exoticism. Such headgear, echoing the ancient Phrygian cap, long ago evolved into a symbol of freedom and revolution, though here, it serves to mark the subject as foreign. We see this motif throughout history, adapted and re-imagined, from the French Revolution’s “bonnet rouge” to contemporary political imagery. The emotional undercurrent is subtle yet potent. The man’s gaze is direct, challenging. This is not a passive representation but an active engagement, hinting at the complex psychological dance between observer and observed, a potent reminder of how symbols evolve, accruing layers of meaning across time and cultural shifts.