Card Number 352, Josset Gymnase, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features Josset Gymnase, an actress, as part of a series promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. Notice how Josset is captured in a moment of poised elegance; her gentle gaze and posture are framed by the fashion of the time. The adornments, particularly the hat, are steeped in symbolism. Hats, historically, have been potent signifiers of status and identity. They have the ability to simultaneously conceal and reveal aspects of the self. The elaborate design gestures towards both the individual and the character Josset embodies. The pose, itself, seems to echo similar stances throughout art history. Think of classical muses captured in moments of contemplation. These postures, passed down through generations of artists, evoke a sense of reflection, engaging viewers on a subconscious level by tapping into collective memories and archetypal expressions of beauty and intellect. The cyclical progression of the hat as a cultural symbol and the pose as an echo of historical depictions of grace, reveal how such elements resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across time.