Card Number 191, Leila Farrell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This card, created by Duke Sons & Co. around the turn of the century, presents Leila Farrell in a theatrical costume, rich with historical echoes. The feathered hat and flowing cape evoke a sense of drama, reminiscent of 18th-century aristocratic portraiture. The pose, with its subtle defiance and gaze, recalls the power and presence of figures in Renaissance paintings. Think of Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. There, too, we see a woman depicted with strength, stepping beyond the confines of her time. Farrell's presentation is deliberately constructed, a performance of identity. The act of costuming is itself a powerful symbol. It allows the wearer to transcend their everyday self, embodying a persona drawn from history, myth, or imagination. This card, intended to promote Duke Cigarettes, taps into a collective desire for transformation, inviting the viewer to partake in a world of fantasy and escape. The cyclical nature of these symbols reminds us that history is never truly past, but always present, resurfacing in unexpected ways.