Miss Raymond, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 1, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes 1888 - 1892

This photographic print, created by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes, captures Miss Raymond, an actress of her time. Note the jaunty hat atop her head. Headwear, throughout history, has denoted status, profession, even allegiance. Consider the Phrygian cap, donned during the French Revolution as a symbol of liberty, or even the dunce cap, used as a mark of shame. Our subconscious is attuned to these sartorial signs. Yet, here, the hat seems almost playful, hinting at the actress's profession: a performer who dons various roles. The upward gaze—a motif echoing through centuries of devotional art—suggests inspiration, aspiration, or perhaps a yearning for something beyond the mundane. This gesture, seen in countless Renaissance Madonnas, transcends its original religious context, carrying a universal appeal to our collective memory, evoking hope and longing. A powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. And so, symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, reminding us of the cyclical nature of cultural expression.