Lydia Page, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This cabinet card by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company features Lydia Page as part of the "Actresses" series. The graceful gesture of Ms. Page holding a shawl, strikes a pose reminiscent of ancient sculptures of draped figures. This gesture appears throughout art history in different forms and settings. We see its echoes in classical portrayals of Venus, or even in the Renaissance depictions of Salome holding the veil, each bearing distinct cultural and emotional significance. The veil, in these contexts, often serves as a symbol of both concealment and revelation, a play between what is hidden and what is brought to light. Observe how this movement has been passed down, evolving in meaning but retaining a core emotional power that continues to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Ms. Page offers a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.