Helen Standish, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 2, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes 1888 - 1892

This photogravure of Helen Standish, from the Actresses series, was produced by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes. Note the upward gaze, a recurring motif in portrayals of women throughout art history. This seemingly simple gesture carries a wealth of cultural meaning. Consider the countless Madonnas in Renaissance paintings, eyes lifted towards heaven, embodying purity and spiritual longing. Yet, in this context, the gaze shifts. It speaks less of religious devotion and more of aspiration, ambition, perhaps even a touch of worldly desire. The raised eyes connect across time, a visual echo resonating with collective memory. It reflects an emotional landscape where hope and dreams are always directed towards a brighter, perhaps unattainable, future. The gaze, once a symbol of piety, is now a tool for commercial allure, subtly promising viewers a taste of the actress's glamorous world. The cyclical journey of symbols reminds us that meaning is never fixed. The actress's hopeful upward glance encourages us to reflect on how we project our desires and aspirations onto the images that surround us.