Bertie Pruyne, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This photograph, produced by the Kinney Brothers, captures Bertie Pruyne, an actress, in a moment of graceful poise to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Note Pruyne's gesture, her arm raised with a delicate hand. This harks back to classical depictions of muses and goddesses, figures who inspire and captivate. Consider how this same gesture appears in Botticelli's Venus, a symbol of love and beauty, yet here, it subtly shifts to promote a commercial product. The act of raising the hand is an offering, suggesting the alluring power of the actress and, by association, the cigarette brand. Such gestures resonate deeply within our collective memory, influencing our perception on a subconscious level. The image speaks to the cyclical nature of symbols. Though transformed, the echo of antiquity persists, adding a layer of sophistication to the advertisement, and demonstrating how gestures can evolve and adapt, carrying historical weight into new contexts.