Card Number 179, Fay Minnette, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 179, Fay Minnette, a promotional cigarette card from around 1900 by Duke Sons & Co. Note the covering gesture in the portrait of this actress. While seemingly modest, this pose, where the hand shields the body, echoes the Venus Pudica. This classical motif, seen in ancient sculptures like the Capitoline Venus, has roots tracing back to ancient Greece. This gesture transcends mere modesty. It is seen in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", and then resurfaces in more modern paintings and photographs. This pose is laden with cultural weight. Across centuries, it navigates the complex intersection of innocence, allure, and societal expectations. The motif reveals a continuous cultural conversation about how female identity is portrayed and perceived. It is a psychological dance, an acknowledgement of the gaze, and an invitation to see, even as it seems to conceal.