Miss Dreker, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, presents us with Miss Dreker, a vision of youthful allure. Her gaze drifts towards the upper-left, a pose reminiscent of classical depictions of contemplation, suggesting both innocence and a hint of worldly awareness. The subject's delicate features and coiffed hair echo similar presentations of women throughout art history, such as we see in the Renaissance portraits of young noblewomen by Botticelli, who present a similar ethereal quality. Yet, in the shift to the popular medium of a cigarette card, this classical portrayal is subtly subverted. It is recontextualized as an object of mass consumption. This card, thus, acts as a signifier of broader cultural shifts, reflecting the commercialization of beauty. It echoes the past, while simultaneously forging new paths in the visual representation of women. The emotional impact resides in this dance between tradition and modernity.