Card Number 35, Rita Chase, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, printed by Duke Sons & Co., features Rita Chase, an actress of the late 19th century, framed within a commercial context. The cameo portrait evokes a sense of classical beauty, a common trope for representing actresses at the time. The bare shoulders and the floral adornment suggest an attempt to associate the actress with natural beauty and purity, themes often explored in Renaissance Venus paintings. This connection stretches back to antiquity, reflecting a timeless ideal of feminine allure. Consider Botticelli's Venus, where the goddess emerges from the sea, surrounded by flowers, symbolizing rebirth and beauty. Here, the actress is similarly presented as an object of admiration, a reflection of cultural ideals and the desires they evoke. The very act of placing her image on a cigarette card transforms her into a commodity, a symbol of pleasure to be consumed. This is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into deep-seated desires and cultural associations. The echoes of Venus remind us that even in the fleeting world of commercial ephemera, the past is always present, subtly shaping our perceptions and desires.