Laura Moore, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This late 19th-century card, from a series by Allen & Ginter, features actress Laura Moore in an intimate pose, her hands clasped beneath her chin. This gesture, seemingly simple, echoes through art history. We see similar hand placements in devotional images of the Virgin Mary, a symbol of purity and introspection. Here, it perhaps suggests a certain thoughtfulness, an invitation for the viewer to see beyond the actress's public persona. But the context shifts the meaning. This isn't a sacred icon, but an advertisement for cigarettes. The gesture, once laden with religious significance, is now used to sell a product, tapping into our collective memory of innocence and vulnerability. This appropriation and reinterpretation highlights the complex, non-linear way in which symbols evolve and resurface, constantly taking on new meanings within our ever-changing cultural landscape.