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

This small card, created by Allen & Ginter, features actress Mary Anderson as part of a series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Note her clasped hands. This gesture transcends mere portraiture. Consider how clasped hands appear throughout art history. They are a symbol that winds its way through time, appearing in Roman funerary art as a sign of farewell, or marital union. Later, we find them in Christian iconography, often depicting saints in contemplative prayer, a symbol of devotion and inner peace. Here, Anderson’s hands suggest both vulnerability and composure. The gesture subtly conveys a sense of introspection. As an actress, she is a vessel for emotions, and her clasped hands may imply a moment of reflection. The non-linear, cyclical progression of this symbol, with its evolution through different times, highlights how visual language is capable of resurfacing.