Sarah Bernhardt - New York's Latest High Pressure Craze; double-page spread from "Chic" magazine (27 October 1880) 1880

This caricature of Sarah Bernhardt was printed in "Chic" magazine in New York in 1880, and it's rife with symbols of celebrity and commodification. Notice the cascade of coins surrounding her; they aren't just decorative. Money, from antiquity to the modern era, symbolizes wealth and power, but here, it also represents Bernhardt's value in the burgeoning celebrity culture. Consider how coins, like medals and portraits, have long been used to immortalize individuals. Here, however, the symbolism shifts, suggesting that Bernhardt herself is being turned into currency. This recalls the ancient motif of the "Golden Rain," often associated with tales of divine impregnation and abundance, yet the shower of gold around Bernhardt feels less divine and more like a commentary on her marketability. This transformation—from artist to commodity—engages our collective anxieties about the commercialization of talent, revealing a powerful tension between admiration and critique. The image resonates deeply because it touches upon our subconscious fears of artistic integrity being overshadowed by economic forces. These forces are continuously at play, shaping and reshaping our cultural landscape.