Dora Maar avec un fume-cigarette, dans son salon, rue de Savoie, Paris 1944

This is a photograph by Brassai, capturing Dora Maar in her Paris salon, a space brimming with artistic and intellectual energy. Here, the cigarette is more than a mere prop; it is a symbol of contemplation, of modern defiance. Consider how the gesture of holding a cigarette reappears through art history, from portraits of philosophers in the Enlightenment to the rebellious figures of the Beat Generation. Each time, it signifies something slightly different, yet connected. The smoke itself, a fleeting, ethereal presence, echoes the vanitas tradition. In the 17th century, the symbol of smoke carried a somber note, reminding viewers of the ephemerality of life, a meditation on mortality. This motif has been transformed, and in the 20th century, it has been refashioned to signify personal liberation, creativity, and introspection. The shifting meaning of the motif resonates deeply with the collective subconscious and our ever-evolving human experience. We continue to engage with these images across time.