Kate Girard, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, printed by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes, depicts Kate Girard, one of the so-called "World's Beauties." A dominant feature is her elaborate hat. This adornment, far from being a mere fashion statement, is laden with cultural weight. Consider the headdress as a symbol of status and allure, echoing the elaborate coiffures of Renaissance portraits and even further back to ancient Egyptian headdresses symbolizing power and divinity. Throughout history, the hat has served as a signifier of identity and social standing. It transcends mere functionality. The hat’s reappearance here is a cultural echo, a return of the repressed. It speaks to the cyclical nature of fashion and the recurring desire to project an idealized image of oneself. This little card, mass-produced for commerce, inadvertently becomes a keeper of cultural memory, a testament to the enduring power of symbols across time.