Cactus: Beware, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

This small chromolithograph was made in America for Duke brand cigarettes. It’s part of a series called Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers. What does it mean to attach a woman's image to a cigarette brand through the symbolic language of flowers? In the Victorian era, flowers were used to convey secret messages, and the cactus here means "beware". We might ask, is this woman dangerous, or in danger? It’s worth noting the commercial context of this image. Tobacco companies used collectible cards to promote their products, often targeting male consumers. The image then, participates in advertising's long history of associating consumer products with idealized images of women. Understanding this image requires us to look at the social and economic forces that shaped its creation. Researching advertising history, Victorian flower symbolism, and the role of women in late 19th-century American culture could reveal the complex layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple image.