Card 873, Lydia Thompson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, made by Allen & Ginter, features Lydia Thompson, a popular actress of her time, promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Note the feather in her hat, a symbol of lightness and frivolity. The feather, throughout art history, has been connected to celestial beings and gods. Yet here, it adorns a performer, signaling a shift from the sacred to the secular. Think of Botticelli's angels, their wings feathered, divine messengers bridging heaven and earth. Thompson’s feather, however, belongs to the stage, an emblem of theatrical illusion. These symbols are like actors in their own right, capable of playing diverse roles across time. The feather once a sign of holiness now signifies entertainment. This card is a potent reminder of how symbols evolve, adapting to the changing currents of culture and consciousness.