Card Number 25, cut-out from banner advertising the Opera Gloves series (G29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This is Card Number 25, a cut-out from a banner advertising the Opera Gloves series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The image shows an elongated yellow glove, its fingers unnaturally tapered, holding a portrait of a woman. The glove itself appears to be peeling open, revealing glimpses of what lies beneath. A decorative border frames the entire composition, adding to its commercial aesthetic. The glove, as a signifier of both elegance and artificiality, raises questions about authenticity. Roland Barthes wrote about how advertising often presents a "mythological" version of reality. Here, the opera glove doesn’t just represent a product; it sells an image of sophistication. The glimpse beneath the glove hints at a subversion of this image, suggesting a reality beneath the surface. The portrait, meticulously placed, further complicates this interplay between surface and depth. Consider how the formal qualities of line and color work to create a visual language that moves beyond simple marketing. The tension between what is shown and what is concealed prompts an ongoing dialogue about representation and perception.