The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, from the Illustrated Songs series (N116) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1893

W. Duke, Sons & Co. produced this card as part of their Illustrated Songs series, to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. The imagery of a beautiful woman and fragrant flowers suggests that tobacco, like spring, can provide pleasure and delight. Made in the United States during the late 19th century, this card reflects the rise of consumer culture and the increasing use of images in advertising. The company distributed these cards with their tobacco products, and the images were intended to appeal to the sensibilities of the time. You can see how the attributes and aspirations of ideal femininity are used to sell commercial products. Examining such works offers a glimpse into the cultural values and social norms of the past. To understand it more deeply, we can consult marketing journals, company records, and social histories of the period. These resources help us see how art is always embedded in the social and institutional contexts of its time.