Card Number 337, Adele Sisters, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This late nineteenth-century advertisement card, produced by Duke Sons & Co., depicts the Adele Sisters, actresses of the era. The sisters are holding riding crops, symbols that carry complex connotations. The riding crop's presence harkens back to equestrian culture, evoking notions of control and aristocratic leisure. It has echoes in the scepters of ancient rulers, and is reminiscent of Hermes' caduceus – associated with power and authority. One can even glimpse associations with instruments of discipline, a transformation that speaks to our subconscious fascination with control and subjection. This potent emblem transcends mere utility. It is a cultural artifact, constantly shifting in meaning as it reappears across time. These shifting cultural meanings engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The humble riding crop becomes a powerful symbol, engaging our collective memory and revealing our shared cultural inheritance.