Mlle. Lenteline, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This image from a Virginia Brights Cigarettes series presents Mlle. Lenteline, a Parisian actress, in the garb of a bullfighter. This sartorial choice is more than mere costume; it’s a deliberate play with symbols of virility and control, traditionally reserved for men. Consider the matador’s costume. It speaks of courage, dominance, and a dance with death. When donned by a woman, these symbols undergo a fascinating transformation. The very act challenges societal norms, invoking the archetypal image of the powerful woman, seen in figures from the ancient Amazon to the biblical Judith. The subtle gesture of her hand on her hip, the determined gaze – these are not passive feminine traits, but active assertions of self. Like Salome, who demanded the head of John the Baptist, Lenteline’s pose and attire project an aura of command, stirring both admiration and unease. Such images linger in the collective psyche, resurfacing and evolving, each time questioning and redefining the boundaries of gender and power.