Valkyrie III, 1895, from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1895

This cigarette card from 1895, by Allen & Ginter, depicts the Valkyrie III, an image of a sailing ship that transcends mere representation, diving deep into the archetypes of motion and the divine feminine. Consider the Valkyrie herself, from Norse myth, choosers of the slain, psychopomps guiding souls to Valhalla. Here, she's transposed onto a vessel, yet the essence remains. The ship cuts through water, wind filling its sails, mirroring the Valkyrie’s flight across realms, and echoing older images of winged deities, of Hermes guiding souls, of the Egyptian solar barque carrying Ra across the sky. This image has been reclaimed, adapted, and reborn through the ages. Is this not a potent symbol of the journey of life, the passage through uncharted waters, and the promise of reaching a final destination? The power of these images lies in their ability to resonate on a subconscious level, stirring collective memories and engaging our deepest emotions, the Valkyrie, the ship, the journey, each a powerful symbol echoing through the corridors of time.