Since the 19th century, the world of smokers has generated a series of materials linked to the graphic arts which, despite their ephemeral nature, have reached our days thanks to collecting. 

One of these products was the box of matches and the trading cards that were part of it. The iconographic theme of these products is quite diverse, but since the world of the smoker was mostly linked to the adult male gender, one of the iconographic references was the female image. Queens, princesses, heroines, actresses or anonymous women accompanied smokers daily through the trading cards.

The figure of the woman has also been the protagonist through erotic images, and the existence of collectible series of matchbox cards in which the protagonist was a woman undressing, dressing or bathing was quite common, challenging the viewer with a seductive gaze. Marès placed these erotically themed specimens in the most hidden back of the room only within reach of the most attentive and curious eyes.