Jennie Brett, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This small advertisement card for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes, made by Goodwin & Company, captures the actress Jennie Brett in a pose reminiscent of classical statuary. The image evokes a sense of theatricality and classical antiquity, seen in the backdrop and the urn where the actress puts her foot. This pose—foot placed on an object—is seen in classical sculptures of victorious figures. It evolved from ancient Roman art and reappears during the Renaissance as a symbolic representation of power and dominion. The gesture carries a psychological weight, embodying the desire for control and the assertion of dominance. From emperors to actresses on cigarette cards, this motif persists, tapping into our collective memory and the subconscious association of this gesture with authority. Its cyclical reappearance highlights the enduring human fascination with power.