Card 454, Pauline Markham, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, created by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, features the actress Pauline Markham in a pose that is both assertive and alluring. Markham's crossed arms, with a cigarette held between her fingers, evoke a sense of self-possession. The pose is reminiscent of classical contrapposto, but it's charged with a modern audacity. This gesture of crossing arms can be traced back to ancient sculptures, where it often signified contemplation or defiance. Yet, here, the cigarette introduces a new element. The act of smoking, historically loaded with both rebellion and sophistication, adds to the complex emotional landscape. It is a symbol of transformation, of something smoldering beneath the surface, appealing to our subconscious desires. A gesture that engages viewers on a deep, visceral level, stirring feelings of longing, curiosity, and perhaps even a hint of danger. It is an image that lingers in the mind, a palimpsest of cultural meanings, constantly reshaped by the passage of time.