Card Number 9, Lillian Russell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 9, Lillian Russell, an advertisement made around 1870 by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. Notice the opulent hat adorning Lillian’s head, a flamboyant symbol of status. This echoes through time, resonating with the headwear of ancient goddesses, conveying power and divine favor. The hat—think of the turbans in Renaissance portraiture, or even the elaborate wigs of the French court—becomes a site where personal identity and broader cultural aspirations converge. Over time, such symbols migrate through diverse visual languages, evolving to reflect society’s ever-changing desires. The basic concept remains—to signal importance. These visual echoes awaken primal responses, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. As such, these symbols are not relics of the past, but cyclical, recurring motifs that continue to shape our collective imagination, reflecting and reinforcing cultural values across time.