Loie Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Allen & Ginter's Loie Fuller, a lithograph created as a promotional insert for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The image captures Fuller, a pioneer of modern dance, during a time of evolving social norms and theatrical innovation. The image shows Fuller in a costume that challenges the rigid gender norms of the late 19th century. Her androgynous style, coupled with her innovative use of lighting and flowing fabrics on stage, offered an alternative to traditional representations of women. She wasn't just performing dance; she was embodying light and color, creating illusions that captivated audiences. Fuller once said, "I did not create my dance, it happened of itself." Her words reveal a sense of surrender to the possibilities of movement and light, a departure from the controlled, corseted expectations of women at the time. This seemingly simple promotional card is a window into a world where women were beginning to redefine their roles, using art and performance to explore new forms of expression and identity. Fuller’s dance was more than entertainment; it was a radical act of self-definition.