Fanny Rice, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a commercial card, from the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter, featuring the actress Fanny Rice. Note the curious motif: she is seated on a barrel, casually draped with a striped cloth. The barrel, a symbol of containment and plenty, often appeared in Dutch Golden Age paintings, signifying domesticity and trade. Yet, its presence here is more playful, almost theatrical. The drape she holds has a striking similarity to the veils of antiquity, from the stola of Roman women to the sacred cloths of religious figures. In ancient art, drapery was used to indicate status, to reveal and conceal at the same time. Here, Fanny uses the drape not to hide but to enhance her allure, a coy gesture that speaks volumes. This veiling resurfaces throughout art history, each time reinvented. The composition engages us, drawing us into a space where commerce meets art, where a simple pose can evoke centuries of cultural memory, a visual echo that resonates across time.