Summary

Note: This object includes a derogatory depiction of a First Nations person. Such depictions are not condoned by Museums Victoria which considers them to be racist. Historical distance and context do not excuse or erase this fact.

Image depicting a coarse stereotype of a First Peoples man in a deeply racist portrayal with the word 'Smelling' above the action. Some cleaning implements suggests the man is a domestic servant, distracted by a bottle of alcohol, playing into racist tropes about First Peoples and drunkedness, as well a their role as servants to white people. One of a series of early 20th century narrative lantern slides.

This lantern slide is part of the Francis Collection of pre-cinematic apparatus and ephemera, acquired by the Australian and Victorian Governments in 1975. David Francis was the curator of the National Film and Sound Archive of the British Film Institute as well as being a co-founder of the Museum of the Moving Image in London, which was operational between 1988 and 1999.

Description of Content

A man standing at a table in a room. The man has opened a bottle of alcohol and is smelling the contents of the bottle.

Physical Description

Standard format (3 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch) lantern slide, comprising black & white print on glass.

More Information