Cabinet card of sideshow actor Mianko Karoo
- Photograph by
- Pentz, Bransby Cooper, American, 1854 - 1928
- Subject of
- Karoo, Mianko, ca. 1868 - unknown
- Unidentified Man or Men
- Date
- ca. 1890
- Medium
- photographic gelatin and silver nitrate on photographic paper on card mount
- Dimensions
- H x W (Card): 4 × 2 1/2 in. (10.2 × 6.4 cm)
- Description
- This cabinet card image depicts sideshow actor Mianko Karoo exhibiting his exceptional height by standing next to a smaller man. Karoo is shows wearing a tall fur hat with feather plume and a long, dark velvet robe with floral embroidery along the edges and cuffs. The robe is worn open over an outfit with fur at the chest, fur around the waist, and fur trimmed boots. He also wears large white hoop earrings and has markings on his face. Karoo stands with his proper right arm on his hip and holds his proper left arm out straight, demonstrating the smaller man and his top hat measures beneath it. The smaller man's proper left hand rests on the back of a wooden chair that is to his side. The two men are posed infront of a studio backdrop with tropical foliage and a decorative metal column to the right. Beneath the image is printed [Pentz] at bottom left and [YORK, PA.] at bottom right.
- Statement
- 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 made
- York, York County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Racist and Stereotypical Objects
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- cabinet photographs
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Amusements
- Photography
- Stereotypes
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2008.9.19
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.