Vienna Beauty, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This lithograph, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century, presents a woman veiled, adorned with flowers and feathers. The veil, historically a symbol of modesty and mystery, cloaks her, inviting a play of concealment and revelation. The veil is an intriguing motif, appearing across various cultures and eras. In ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins wore veils to signify their sacred duty and purity. Renaissance portraits often depicted women with sheer veils, a nod to marriage and wifely virtue. Over time, the veil has transformed from a religious emblem to a fashion statement, and even a symbol of protest. Think of the suffragettes, adopting veils as a sign of their cause. Consider how this symbol’s meaning has shifted, shaped by cultural memory and subconscious desires. What does this modern woman, framed by a cigarette advertisement, conceal or reveal with her veil? Perhaps, even now, this icon resurfaces, transformed, in contemporary fashion.