Lillian Lewis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This photograph of Lillian Lewis, part of Goodwin & Company’s Actors and Actresses series, presents us with a curious study in gesture and adornment. Notice how Lewis holds a small piece of paper, her gaze fixed upon it in what seems like a moment of private contemplation. This act of reading or reflecting upon a missive has echoes in countless works across time. Consider, for instance, medieval depictions of the Annunciation, where Mary receives a divine message. Here, Lewis, an actress, receives perhaps a more earthly communication, yet the pose evokes a similar sense of anticipation. The ruffled collar frames her face, drawing our eyes to her expression, amplifying the emotional weight of her private moment. We can even draw comparison with Egyptian art, where figures are often depicted in profile, emphasizing clarity and timelessness. The gesture, frozen in this small card, becomes a vessel for our own projections, inviting us to contemplate the ephemeral nature of communication and the enduring power of human emotion. It speaks to the cyclical nature of images and their capacity to evoke profound, often subconscious, connections across time and culture.