From the series "Sports Girls" (C190), issued by the American Cigarette Company, Ltd., Montreal, to promote Gloria Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This small promotional card, made by the American Cigarette Company, presents us with an intriguing figure, a “Sports Girl”, clad in nautical attire. Her costume, complete with a sailor collar and decorative sash, is a playful nod to maritime adventures, yet here it is transformed into a symbol of feminine vitality. The sash, casually knotted at her waist, reminds me of the draped fabrics seen in classical depictions of nymphs or goddesses. Consider Botticelli’s Venus, emerging from the sea, partially veiled, her modesty protected, her beauty enhanced. Here, the sash serves a similar function, hinting at liberation. Observe how the female figure, once bound by corsets and convention, now appears, however symbolically, freed through sport. This is a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This cyclical progression of symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.