Bertha Ricci in Colors of Royal Belgian Yacht Club, from the Yacht Colors of the World series (N140) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

This promotional card by W. Duke, Sons & Co. features Bertha Ricci, framed by symbols of the Royal Belgian Yacht Club. Note how oars and nautical rope form a border, and the club's flag, rich with heraldic symbols, floats above her head. These are not merely decorative. The oar, for instance, extends back to ancient seafaring cultures, symbolizing journeys and the crossing of boundaries. We see this echoed in funerary practices across different eras, where boats and oars ensure safe passage to the afterlife. The rope, a symbol of connection and constraint, also appears in various guises—binding lovers in classical art, or ensnaring figures in scenes of torment. Consider how these symbols resonate within our collective psyche, evoking primal fears and desires. The sea itself, a source of life and a harbinger of death, stirs deep-seated emotions. This card, in its unassuming way, taps into these timeless motifs, engaging us on a subconscious level with a narrative that transcends its immediate context. These nautical elements resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.