From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, made for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, depicts an actress holding a sword, a potent symbol. The sword is not merely a prop but a declaration. It's a gesture of power, historically associated with masculine authority, valor, and justice. We see the sword echoing through time. Think of ancient Roman statues of emperors with their gladius, or Renaissance portraits of knights. The weapon becomes a visual shorthand for strength and command. Here, it’s held by a woman, subverting the established order. Consider, too, the psychological impact of the sword. It evokes a sense of potential, of the capacity for decisive action. The gesture engages our subconscious. This image serves as a reminder of how symbols resurface, evolve, and are reinterpreted. It demonstrates the perpetual dance of meaning through the corridors of time.