Card Number 17, cut-out from banner advertising the Opera Gloves series (G29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This is Card Number 17, a promotional cut-out from a banner advertising the Opera Gloves series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. It presents us with the dominant image of a gloved hand holding a portrait, but it’s the hourglass-shaped opening on the glove’s palm that truly captures our attention. The hourglass is a timeless memento mori, a stark reminder of life’s fleeting nature. But here, its presence is layered with intriguing complexities. This symbol is found across different cultures and eras, from ancient Roman sarcophagi to Renaissance paintings, where it signifies mortality and the passage of time. The hourglass acts as a silent narrator, reminding us of the transient nature of beauty, love, and life itself. Consider how this motif has resurfaced through the ages, adapting and evolving, yet always tethered to its original meaning. The gloved hand, once a symbol of elegance and refinement, is here pierced by the stark reality of time's passage. Observe how it evokes a poignant emotional response, a silent acknowledgment of the inevitable. Such powerful images engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, proving that cultural symbols have a non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving across different historical contexts, always carrying layers of accumulated meaning.