Card Number 121, Nellie Harding, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, created by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes, features actress Nellie Harding, adorned with symbols of her era's idealized beauty. The pearl necklace, a classical symbol of purity and status, is subtly reminiscent of ancient Roman adornments, reflecting a desire to connect with a glorious past. The pearl, a symbol of wealth and refinement, can be seen echoing through history, from ancient Greek statues to Renaissance portraits, each time subtly shifting its meaning. Here, the likeness of Harding is captured in the very same way that the Roman elite sought to immortalize themselves in marble. The image serves not just as advertising, but as a potent reminder of the timeless human desire for beauty and status, echoing through centuries. This yearning is an eternal psychological driver, perpetuating the use of symbols like pearls, continuously reinvented to mirror societal values. Even today, pearls retain their allure, manifesting the non-linear progression of symbols, their meanings cyclical, resurfacing, and evolving across time.