Kate Davis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This photographic print of Kate Davis comes from a series of actors and actresses made for Old Judge Cigarettes by Goodwin & Company in New York. Davis stands before us, her hands clasped demurely behind her back, a subtle gesture of self-containment. This recalls the Venus Pudica, where the figure modestly veils her body, embodying both allure and virtue. Here, the gaze is direct, but that demure hand placement adds a layer of complexity. We see this motif re-emerge throughout history. The hand clasped behind the back becomes the ‘mask’ of self-control; the posture a display of poise, especially for women in performance. Consider the psychological tension: the performer bares herself, yet maintains control. This tension perhaps mirrors the viewer's own complex desires. Indeed, these images possess a powerful emotional charge, a subconscious dance between the seen and the concealed, revealing the ever-evolving performance of identity across time.