Card Number 76, Irene Verona, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is card number 76 from the Actors and Actresses series, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. Here, Irene Verona strikes a pose that harkens back to classical statuary. She leans against a column, an arm raised—a gesture we find echoed across centuries, from ancient Greek sculptures to Renaissance paintings. Observe how this pose, with its open stance and lifted arm, traditionally signifies power, victory, or even divine grace. Think of Nike, the winged goddess of victory, often depicted in similar triumphant stances. But here, its significance has subtly shifted. Verona is not a goddess or a conqueror, but an actress, a performer. The gesture now speaks more to display, to the captivating of an audience. This transformation embodies the life of images, a constant cycle of borrowing and reinterpretation. It’s a prime example of how cultural memory shapes and reshapes itself, reminding us that images are never truly static, they are constantly evolving in our collective consciousness.