Mollie Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This sepia photograph of Mollie Fuller, part of the Actors and Actresses series by Goodwin & Company, presents a vision of youthful innocence, subtly framed within the conventions of celebrity portraiture. Fuller's pose, seated with hands clasped in her lap, echoes poses found in Renaissance depictions of 'modest Venus'. This pose, deeply embedded in Western art, originally symbolized love, beauty, and fertility, later evolving to embody feminine virtue and humility. Her simple bonnet, reminiscent of rural attire, further enhances this image of purity. Consider, though, how this iconography shifts when placed within the context of a cigarette card. What was once a symbol of virtue becomes intertwined with commerce and entertainment. The image of Mollie Fuller, like Venus, invites desire—but here, it’s a desire subtly linked to the pleasures of smoking. This interplay between innocence and allure speaks to our complex relationship with the symbols and their power to evoke deep-seated emotions. The past is always present, its symbols continually reborn in new and unexpected forms.