Card Number 215, Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents the actress Sutherland amidst the rising popularity of tobacco. Observe how Sutherland poses with a hand on her hip, a gesture we might trace back to classical antiquity. Consider the Venus Pudica, a symbol of modesty and beauty. Here, though, Sutherland's pose has evolved, shedding its classical modesty for a self-assuredness that speaks to the burgeoning role of women in public life. The feather in her hair? A flamboyant detail that connects her to centuries of aristocratic display. Think of the elaborate headdresses of the French court, or the feathered helmets of ancient warriors. In each case, the feather serves as a potent symbol of status, power, and allure. This image, then, is a fascinating collision of past and present, where ancient gestures and symbols are reborn in a new, modern context.