Card Number 531, Eliza Reusels, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Duke Cigarettes, featuring actress Eliza Reusels, circa 1880. Eliza stands in profile before a simple interior scene, clutching a white cloth. Note her gesture. Holding a piece of fabric recalls the classical motif of drapery. In ancient sculpture, drapery was used not only to conceal but to reveal, adding movement and emotional weight to the figure. Think of the flowing robes of Greek goddesses or the dramatic folds in Baroque sculptures. Here, Eliza's cloth is a deliberate echo of that tradition, a subtle nod to the timeless beauty and grace associated with the performing arts. This seemingly simple gesture connects Eliza to a long lineage of artistic expression, tapping into our collective memory of beauty and performance. It is a visual echo that resonates through time.