Card 315, Modjeska, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card from around 1888, by Allen & Ginter, part of a series promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes, featuring the actress Helena Modjeska. Here, the actress is presented in costume, evoking a sense of exoticism with ornate, vaguely Middle Eastern garments and a decorative sword. This Orientalist trope was pervasive in 19th-century theatre and art. It suggests the performance of roles far removed from everyday Western experience. Consider the sword. A symbol of power and authority, here it's almost decorative, hinting at the theatrical, performative nature of identity. The sword has its origins in ancient warfare. Over time it has been transformed into symbols of knighthood, royalty, and justice. This recurs in art throughout history, reflecting a deep-seated fascination with strength and control. The image is charged with a captivating blend of reality and illusion, reflecting the power of theatre to tap into collective desires and fantasies. Such archetypes recur across centuries, echoing in our cultural memory.