Card Number 301, Rosa Hersey, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card of Rosa Hersey, from the Actors and Actresses series, was made by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. Note how Rosa’s delicate hand gently caresses her neck, an echo of Venus Pudica, a classical motif of modesty and allure. This gesture—one hand covering the breast, the other the groin—is a potent symbol. It first appears in ancient sculpture, a dance between concealment and revelation, innocence and seduction. Centuries later, we see echoes of this posture in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", where the goddess shields herself upon arrival, symbolizing rebirth and purity. Over time, this gesture has been reinterpreted, yet its essence remains—a powerful expression of vulnerability and beauty, of women’s dual nature. Consider how this symbol engages us, stirring something deep within. The cycle continues, a timeless dance of gesture and meaning.