Card Number 132, Miss Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., depicts Miss Hall posed demurely by a window. The window itself is a potent symbol, a frame through which we view both the subject and, perhaps, a glimpse of a world beyond. The window motif echoes through art history, from Renaissance paintings where it symbolizes perspective and knowledge, to Romantic landscapes where it frames nature's sublime power. Here, however, the window is more intimate, domestic, suggesting a private moment. Consider how the act of framing—whether by a window or a stage—changes our perception. It invites us to see Miss Hall not just as an individual, but as a representation, an image carefully constructed for the public gaze. This interplay of private and public, revelation and concealment, is a recurring theme in our collective psyche. This image plays into our desire to peek behind the curtain, to glimpse the person behind the persona. The subtle allure of Miss Hall, framed by her window, speaks to the enduring power of images to evoke curiosity, desire, and the eternal quest for meaning behind appearances.