Card 38, from the Girl Cyclists series (N49) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1887

This small card, one of a series produced for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, depicts a woman on a high-wheel bicycle. The sepia tone flattens the image, reducing depth and emphasizing the geometry of its composition. A large, dominant circle formed by the bicycle's front wheel intersects with the cyclist's body, creating a dynamic tension between the mechanical and the human form. The image's structure reveals an interesting play with gender roles and societal expectations. The woman, dressed in practical attire, challenges the conventional, passive representation of women in art. Here, she’s actively engaged with technology and outdoor life. Considered through a semiotic lens, the bicycle itself is a powerful signifier, representing progress, speed, and freedom. Its inclusion in a cigarette card infers the modern, liberated woman. This challenges fixed meanings and hints at changing cultural values and ideals that were emerging at the turn of the century.