Miss Rolfe, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a photograph from the Actresses series, N245, by Kinney Brothers, intended to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Miss Rolfe is depicted in what appears to be theatrical attire. Notice the gladiator-style boots and the short skirt. The costume is reminiscent of classical antiquity, a theme that has been continually revisited and reinterpreted throughout history. This harkens back to the ancient Greek and Roman theater costumes, linking Miss Rolfe to centuries of performance tradition. The theatricality and implied drama engage our subconscious, conjuring collective memories of grand performances and mythological storytelling. Just as the snake sheds its skin to be reborn, these symbols are continually renewed, each time colored by a new cultural context. Through each performance, the garment gains a new layer, a new cultural association, endlessly shifting and evolving.