Annie Russell, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 1, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes 1888 - 1892

This is Annie Russell, as captured in a photograph by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional card for Sporting Extra Cigarettes. Her fur stole and feathered hat mark her as a woman of style and substance in the late 19th century. The feathers, especially, evoke an ancient connection to nature, reminiscent of winged deities and mythological figures adorned with feathers as symbols of power, freedom, and spiritual ascension. Consider the recurrence of feathered adornments from ancient Egyptian headdresses to Renaissance allegories of virtues. The feather, light yet potent, carries a visual language that transcends time. Its presence here perhaps alludes to the transformative power of theatre, where Annie Russell embodies different characters, taking flight into various emotional and psychological realms. The image evokes a deep, subconscious response, tapping into collective memories of ritual and transformation, perpetually reborn in new contexts.