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

This is "Ruhende Bajadere," a promotional card for Duke Cigarettes, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. The sepia tone lends the image a dreamy, soft focus, enhancing the sitter's languid pose. Notice how the composition invites the viewer's gaze from the title upwards, framing the subject in a reclined posture, arms behind her head. The soft, diffused light across her face and dress renders a delicate texture, while the darker backdrop pushes her forward. Semiotically, her gaze is directed slightly off to the side, connoting a sense of detachment or contemplation. The structural interplay between light and shadow, combined with the sitter's relaxed state, undermines conventional representations of women during this period. The formal qualities of this small card underscore how commercial art can subtly engage with cultural perceptions. As an artwork it invites us to consider the complex relationship between representation, commerce, and cultural values.