Photograph of Princess Orelia and Pedro with the "Cuban Congo Dancers": Museum Object and Cultural History
Photograph of Princess Orelia and Pedro with the "Cuban Congo Dancers": Date: ca. 1938. Photograph by: James J. Kriegsmann, 1909 - 1994. Subject of: Princess Orelia Benskina, Panamanian American, 1911 - 2002.
The object in the museum catalogue
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.].
Materials, dates and provenance
- Date: ca. 1938
- Photograph by: James J. Kriegsmann, 1909 - 1994
- Subject of: Princess Orelia Benskina, Panamanian American, 1911 - 2002
- Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
- Owned by: Laura Cathrell, 1914 - 1999
- Type: gelatin silver prints
- Type: portraits
- Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
- Dimensions: H x W (Image): 7 1/2 × 9 5/16 in. (19 × 23.6 cm)
- Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 8 1/8 × 10 in. (20.6 × 25.4 cm)
- Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Cultural Place: Cuba, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America
- Topic: African American
- Topic: Dance
- Topic: Entertainers
- Topic: Latin jazz (Music)
- Topic: Music
- Topic: Nightlife
- Topic: Photography
- Topic: Stereotypes
- Object number: 2013.46.25.30
- Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
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