Russian Lady, printer's sample from World's Smokers series (N33) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, "Russian Lady," was created as a printer's sample for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The image is defined by a classical composition with a profile view against a muted backdrop. The layering of colour creates a sense of depth, and contrasts between her reddish coat and pale skin are visually striking. Considered through the lens of semiotics, the woman's gesture of holding a cigarette serves as a powerful signifier. It speaks not just to pleasure, but also to identity and modernity. The cigarette in her hand is a symbolic marker of her participation in a modern, global culture, where gender roles are increasingly destabilized, and women are active participants in consumer culture. The structural arrangement of this image creates a dialogue between tradition and modernity, challenging fixed meanings and categories. In essence, the artwork functions as an aesthetic object and a carrier of cultural codes, reflecting evolving attitudes towards women, consumption, and representation.