Actress from the Old Judge series (N167) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886

This is a trade card of an actress from the Old Judge series, made around 1890 by Goodwin & Company. The elaborate turban she wears is not merely a fashion statement; it’s a symbol, an emblem, and a cultural artifact. Turbans, throughout history, have signified nobility, spiritual wisdom, and exotic allure. Think of Renaissance paintings depicting figures from the Orient, their heads adorned with similar, intricate wraps. The turban is a motif that carries with it centuries of cultural exchange, a testament to human fascination with the ‘other’. The subconscious allure of the turban can be understood through the lens of collective memory, where deeply embedded cultural associations influence our perception, and ignite an emotional response in the viewer, evoking dreams, desires, and anxieties linked to identity, power, and cultural boundaries. Observe how such symbols transcend time. The turban motif returns, transformed, reinterpreted, yet still echoing those original whispers of the Orient. These symbols perpetually resurface. They evolve and take on new life.