Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Goodwin & Company created this carte-de-visite of the actress Fuller, part of a series to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. Notice the relaxed pose of the sitter. She reclines in a chair with a loose garment draped over her form. The drapery in this portrait is evocative of classical statues of goddesses and heroines, echoing the same visual language as ancient sculptures of Aphrodite or draped figures in Renaissance paintings. However, here the drapery softens the sitter's posture, giving her an approachable allure. From antiquity to now, the careful arrangement of fabric carries symbolic weight. This motif has appeared in endless variations, each time imbued with the spirit of its age, and its cultural memory. The sensuality of the pose is heightened by the contrast of exposed skin and the concealing folds of cloth, resonating with an emotional depth that transcends time.