Mlle. Sorel, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This small promotional card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, printed by Kinney Brothers, presents Mlle. Sorel, an actress of the time, with a fan and a small book. The fan, an ancient instrument, is here a symbol of coquetry and veiled communication. It is the object that comes to mind when I think of the fluttering fans in ancient Japanese prints, and I can remember how it served as a subtle language of flirtation in paintings by French Impressionists. The folding fan, with its origins in ritualistic use, evolved into a marker of status and a tool for flirtation. The book, on the other hand, is held rather than read. It's a prop, suggesting intellectualism, or perhaps simply a narrative waiting to unfold. This pose, though seemingly casual, resonates with a deep-seated desire for expression. It speaks of performances, roles, and the self we choose to reveal. The fan and the book are not just accessories, but potent symbols. They capture the eternal dance between concealment and revelation, echoing through the ages.