Card Number 155, Mrs. Roach, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Duke Cigarettes, featuring Mrs. Roach, an actress of the late 19th century. Note how her pose invites contemplation and even melancholy. Her head rests gently on her hand, a gesture that echoes across centuries, from classical depictions of melancholia to Renaissance portraits of thoughtful muses. We see this motif in funerary sculpture to convey deep sorrow and introspection. It is a gesture of profound thought, almost theatrical, imbued with a sense of learnedness or inner turmoil. This pose is not merely a physical posture but a conveyance of inner states, tapping into a collective memory of sorrow, wisdom, and the burdens of the human condition. Though here, it serves to elevate the status of the actress and, by extension, the cigarette brand. The pose connects Mrs. Roach to a rich, historical lineage of contemplation. It is a powerful force that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, inviting us to see beyond the surface and ponder the complexities within.