Card Number 315, M. Lidoiree, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card, issued around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents Mademoiselle Lidoiree, an actress of her time, holding a fan. The fan, a seemingly simple object, speaks volumes. Historically, it's been a tool of flirtation and concealment, a way to both reveal and hide emotion. Across centuries and cultures, the gesture of covering the lower face with an object—be it a fan, a veil, or even a hand—reappears. In classical tragedy, the veiled face signified grief, while in Byzantine art, it denoted sanctity and mystery. The act of concealing the face resonates with the subconscious desire to protect oneself, to create a barrier between the inner self and the outer world. It’s an emotional reflex, a powerful force that allows us to manage our vulnerability. This humble cigarette card captures a fragment of this enduring motif. A reminder that even in the fleeting world of advertising, the echoes of history and the depths of human emotion linger.