Miss Rubens, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This card, “Miss Rubens,” was produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series of actresses. The subject's pose, with her hand gently supporting her face, evokes a pensive mood. This gesture, reminiscent of Melancholia, has roots stretching back to antiquity. We see echoes of it in ancient sculptures, where figures contemplate weighty matters of existence. It reemerges powerfully in Renaissance art, famously in Dürer's engraving "Melancholia I," a complex meditation on artistic inspiration and the human condition. In “Miss Rubens,” the gesture takes on a different hue, perhaps reflecting a more modern, introspective sensibility. It still resonates with the weight of thought and emotion, yet now filtered through the lens of celebrity and public image. This transformation speaks to the enduring power of symbols, constantly shifting in meaning as they traverse time and cultural contexts, yet retaining an emotional charge that connects us to the past.