Card 631, Kate Uart, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 7) for Dixie Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a carte-de-visite from the Actors and Actresses series produced for Dixie Cigarettes, featuring Kate Uart. The most striking symbol here is the mace she holds aloft, adorned with a plume, reflecting power and authority. The mace is not merely a stage prop but echoes motifs of dominion. Think back to ancient rulers bearing scepters, symbols that have evolved to convey authority. Over time, the mace transcended mere representation to become a symbol of institutional power. In this portrait, we see this symbol juxtaposed with the performative identity of an actress, complicating and perhaps critiquing the very notion of authority. It taps into collective memories of sovereignty while playing with the transient nature of celebrity. This creates a tension, a visual discord that engages the subconscious mind, forcing us to confront the interplay between image, power, and performance. This symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.