Card Number 328, Kiralfy Group, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card by W. Duke, Sons & Co., part of a series of actors and actresses distributed to sell Cross Cut Cigarettes. Here, the dancer’s pose, with arms raised and head tilted, echoes classical depictions of ecstasy and abandon, like those seen in depictions of maenads, the female followers of Dionysus. The fan-like structure could also be seen in Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”, where Zephyrus blows wind towards the goddess, or in Indian art in the form of a halo. Across epochs, this wind motif transforms, yet the essential meaning is still present. From classical art to modern advertising, the gesture retains its power to evoke powerful emotional states, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Thus, this image reminds us of the cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.