Alice Evans, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a printed card portraying the actress Alice Evans, part of a series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Note the fur stole encircling her neck. The association of fur with status and allure stretches far back in time. Consider how, in ancient societies, animal skins signified power and protection, often linked to deities and royalty. This motif of luxurious animal adornment surfaces repeatedly. The fur, a symbol of wildness tamed, also whispers of hidden desires and the primal self, connecting us to deeper instincts. This card encapsulates a moment in cultural history where the stage, fashion, and commerce intertwine, playing out on the grand stage of human desires and aspirations. Just as fur has morphed from primitive necessity to high fashion, its underlying message remains, a cyclical dance of status, sensuality, and the eternal echo of our wilder selves.