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

This striking card, part of a series from Virginia Brights Cigarettes, captures the actress Josie Willoughby, likely dating to the late 19th century. Willoughby is adorned with what seems to be an exotic costume, including an elaborate headdress. Consider the fan she holds and the palm fronds in the backdrop – potent symbols of the Orient that conjure a world of fantasy and allure. This exoticism was a recurring theme in art and performance, reflecting a Western fascination with faraway lands. We can see echoes of this in earlier Renaissance paintings depicting fantastical versions of the East. Such Orientalist tropes are not static; their interpretation shifts across time, reflecting evolving cultural attitudes. While initially a source of wonder and escapism, these images can become laden with colonial undertones. This card, seemingly innocuous, speaks volumes about how cultures perceive and represent one another, a process driven by both conscious design and the subconscious desires of a society. The cyclical nature of these symbols continues to provoke thought and reinterpretation to this day.