Lily Elton, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is Lily Elton, from the Actresses series, a photograph printed by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Lily sits, perched, almost bird-like, on what appears to be the edge of a boat. Her gaze drifts off to the right, as if searching or longing for something. She appears in a bathing suit. The attire, marking a departure from traditional Victorian modesty, symbolizes a changing era of increased freedom and openness. Consider Botticelli's Venus, another woman emerging from the water. Both figures evoke ideas of rebirth, beauty, and the allure of the feminine divine. But where Venus embodies classical ideals, Lily represents the modern woman, confident and self-aware. This pose, with its subtle sensuality, resurfaces time and again, each iteration adapting to its cultural moment. This reflects our collective, perhaps subconscious, fascination with the feminine form. Lily Elton, immortalized in this cigarette card, continues to engage us. These symbols are more than just images; they are powerful forces, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. Each era reimagines these motifs, revealing the cyclical dance between past and present.