Card Number 256, E. Evansville, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card from the late 19th century, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise their Duke Cigarettes. Here we see a portrait of the actress E. Evansville, posed in a reflective posture. Notice the hand gently supporting her chin, a gesture laden with contemplation and melancholy. This motif stretches far back through art history, echoing in the poses of ancient philosophers and Renaissance thinkers alike. One sees it, for example, in countless depictions of melancholic muses and thoughtful saints. The weight of thought, the burden of reflection—these are universal human experiences, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. The gesture evolves with time, mirroring changing cultural values, yet its core meaning endures. It becomes a visual shorthand for interiority, for the silent drama of the mind. We witness this non-linear progression of the symbol, how it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.