Photograph of Princess Orelia and Pedro with the "Cuban Congo Dancers"
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1938
name: label: Photograph by
content: James J. Kriegsmann, 1909 - 1994
label: Subject of
content: Princess Orelia Benskina, Panamanian American, 1911 - 2002
label: Subject of
content: Unidentified Man or Men
label: Owned by
content: Laura Cathrell, 1914 - 1999
notes: label: Description
content: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image Princess Orelia and four (4) men in costumes with conga drums. Orelia is depicted lying on her side, on the floor, with her head and shoulders raised off of the ground. She is wearing a white feathered costume and has a flower in her hair, tucked behind her proper right ear. The men are crouched behind her. Each man is wearing a loin cloth, beaded necklaces, and feathered headdresses. Each man's face is painted in a different style of light and dark geometric designs. Three (3) of the men are playing drums, while the fourth has his arms crossed over his chest. Near the top center of the image is an inscription in black ink that reads, [To "Laurie" / You'll always be remembered / & best wishes always / Sincerely / "Orelia & Pedro" / 44]. A signature printed in the negative in the bottom right corner reads, [James J. Kriegsmann, / NY.] A handwritten inscription in black ink in the top left corner of the back of the image reads, [770 St. Mik. Ave / N.Y.C. / #76. Ed. 410737.].
label: Statement
content: Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
place: label: Place made
content: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
label: Cultural Place
content: Cuba, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Dance
label: Topic
content: Entertainers
label: Topic
content: Latin jazz (Music)
label: Topic
content: Music
label: Topic
content: Nightlife
label: Topic
content: Photography
label: Topic
content: Stereotypes
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: The Laura Cathrell Show-Down Magazine Collection
label: Classification
content: Racist and Stereotypical Objects
label: Classification
content: Photographs and Still Images
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2013.46.25.30
objectType: label: Type
content: gelatin silver prints
label: Type
content: portraits
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Unknown - Restrictions Possible
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Image): 7 1/2 × 9 5/16 in. (19 × 23.6 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Sheet): 8 1/8 × 10 in. (20.6 × 25.4 cm)