Card Number 7, cut-out from banner advertising the Opera Gloves series (G29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This cut-out from an Allen & Ginter Cigarettes banner presents a gloved hand displaying a portrait of a woman, circa late 19th century. The gloved hand, a symbol of elegance and social status during the Victorian era, extends far beyond its immediate context. Think of the medieval gauntlets, emblems of knightly power, or even the protective gloves of laborers through the ages. Here, however, the opera glove softens the hand, transforming it from a symbol of power to one of refinement. Consider the portrait held within. It evokes a sense of intimacy, yet it’s mediated by the glove. This mediation speaks to our complex relationship with representation, memory, and desire. Like the ancient Greeks who sought ideal forms, we grasp at images hoping to capture a fleeting essence. The motif of the gloved hand holding a portrait thus continues its cyclical journey, resurfacing in new forms, echoing through time, and reminding us of the enduring power of symbols to engage our collective psyche.