Mlle. Isabelle, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a promotional card of Mlle. Isabelle, an actress, printed by Duke Sons & Co. Wrapped in a delicate, lace-trimmed shawl, Isabelle evokes images of modesty, yet her gaze is direct. The shawl, a symbol of purity and restraint, has roots stretching back to ancient Roman veiling rituals, representing both protection and concealment. We see it echoed in countless images of the Madonna, the epitome of maternal purity, throughout Renaissance art. Yet, here, the shawl seems almost theatrical, a prop in a carefully constructed image. This duality—the sacred and the performative—creates tension. It touches the viewers' collective memory, engaging with deeply ingrained cultural associations, yet subtly subverting them. This play between concealment and exposure reflects the complex, often contradictory, roles women occupy in society. The symbol of the shawl has morphed through time, a constant interplay between piety and performance.