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

This card featuring Miss Mather from the Actresses series was produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Notice the lace collar, a delicate yet assertive band that encircles her neck. In earlier times, such collars were worn as symbols of status and modesty, yet here, encircling the throat of an actress, the collar takes on a theatrical dimension. I am reminded of the ruffs in Renaissance portraits, signaling nobility and power, but those stood apart from the body, creating distance. This collar, in contrast, suggests a form of constraint, a visual tension between the actress's profession, which demands openness and exposure, and societal expectations of a woman's proper place. Such a symbol is not static; it evolves, reflecting cultural anxieties and aspirations. This very tension plays out on the stage, as it does in life, engaging us on a deeply psychological level.