Card Number 26, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card, made around 1870 by W. Duke Sons & Co., features an actress adorned with a lace collar and pearl embellishments, symbols of beauty and status in the 19th century. The lace, particularly, is more than mere decoration. Trace its origins back to the intricate webs of classical mythology, like Arachne's boastful weaving turned into an eternal, artistic craft. The cyclical dance between visibility and concealment, woven into the fabric itself, mirrors the actress's own crafted persona. Consider, too, how pearls—once treasures of nymphs and goddesses—now frame her face, drawing our gaze while simultaneously suggesting a hidden world beneath the surface. This tension, this play of revelation and mystery, speaks to the complex emotional landscape the actress embodies, engaging us on a profound level. The non-linear evolution of the symbol of lace, like that of the actress, reflects a continuous negotiation between past ideals and present realities.