Card Number 44, Jessie Stoddart, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card, made by Duke Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century, depicts actress Jessie Stoddart in a moment of repose, her hands behind her head, a straw hat casually perched atop her brow. The hands-behind-the-head gesture has long been a visual shorthand for relaxation, a pose of vulnerability and openness. Think of classical sculptures of reclining figures, or even Venus rising from the sea, this gesture has symbolized ease and availability. Yet, in this modern context, what does it convey? Consider how the pose has evolved—from gods to actresses, from marble to print, from expressions of divinity to the commodification of leisure. This pose echoes through centuries, carrying layers of meaning. Perhaps, unconsciously, the viewer is invited to project their desires and aspirations onto Stoddart, engaging with her image on a deeply personal level. The symbolic weight of the pose evokes a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of longing for a bygone era. In this cyclical progression, Stoddart’s pose embodies the complex interplay between cultural memory, desire, and the ever-shifting nature of representation.