Card 472, Agnes Booth, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This delicate card from the Actors and Actresses series, created by Allen & Ginter, captures the visage of Agnes Booth. Her softly curled hair and the subtle incline of her head evoke a sense of classical portraiture. The profile view, a convention since antiquity, carries echoes of Roman imperial portraiture, but here, it is imbued with the romantic sensibility of the late 19th century. Her gaze, directed beyond the frame, connects to the motif of melancholia often seen in Renaissance art, where averted eyes signify contemplation and inner emotional depth. Consider the countless Madonnas in paintings where a similar gentle sadness conveys profound empathy. The mass-produced nature of this card transforms the actress into a widely accessible icon, yet the echo of classical and religious motifs elevates it beyond mere commercialism, tapping into collective memories of beauty, sorrow, and grace. The image is not just seen, but felt. A continuous cycle of cultural symbols.