Card Number 305, Amalia De Revoise, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes by W. Duke Sons & Co., featuring actress Amalia De Revoise. The image is rich with symbols echoing through art history. Notice Amalia’s headpiece and jewelry. This adornment draws from ancient diadems and theatrical costumes, blending reality and stage. The armbands and jewelry around her neck harken back to classical antiquity, recalling imagery of goddesses and heroines. Similar motifs can be found in Renaissance portraits, where jewelry signifies status and virtue. Yet, here, the context shifts – an actress, celebrated and commodified. This image evokes a complex interplay between memory, performance, and commerce, engaging viewers on a subconscious level with symbols of beauty and fame. The non-linear trajectory of such symbols is fascinating as they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.