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

This is an advertisement card of 'The Marchioness' from the Actors and Actresses series for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. The figure is depicted in profile, focusing on her facial features and the style of her hair, with a flower prominently displayed on her chest. The flower, universally a symbol of beauty, and ephemeral existence, appears in vanitas paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, a reminder of our inevitable mortality. Consider Botticelli's Venus, goddess of beauty, often adorned with flowers. Her presence reminds us that beauty itself is as fleeting as the bloom of a flower. The flower, therefore, connects our marchioness to a rich history of symbolism. It touches on our collective memory and subconscious recognition of beauty's transient nature, reminding us of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. This simple token, laden with layers of meaning, engages us on a deep, subconscious level, a testament to the enduring power of symbols through time.