Miss Manola, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This card, printed by Duke Sons & Co., presents Miss Manola, a figure adorned in theatrical garb. Her dress, while of its time, evokes something older. Consider the silhouette and posture. Miss Manola stands with a slight contrapposto, a pose known from classical sculpture, suggesting a dancer caught in motion. This very stance, reminiscent of ancient statues, carries echoes of freedom and dynamism, transforming through time and media. The intentional evocation of historical motifs points towards an attempt to imbue the present with the aura of the past, perhaps tapping into a collective memory of theatrical tradition. It highlights our enduring fascination with the expressive potential of the human form. This pursuit of an idealized beauty is a timeless endeavor, revealing how we continually seek to find new meaning and emotional resonance in familiar gestures.