Lotta in Colors of Portland Yacht Club, from the Yacht Colors of the World series (N140) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

This print was issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. Framed by oars and rope, the figure of Lotta is emblazoned in the colors of the Portland Yacht Club, a fashionable nautical theme for its time. Consider the oar, a symbol of navigation, of passage across water—a motif we see stretching back to ancient Egyptian funerary boats, guiding souls to the afterlife. Here, it’s intertwined with rope, another potent symbol, binding and connecting. These aren’t merely decorative elements; they evoke primal urges—the need to traverse, to explore, to connect. The image's nautical theme suggests not only adventure but also a connection to deeper, perhaps subconscious, desires for exploration and discovery. These symbols, passed down through history, tap into collective memories of maritime exploration and the human relationship with the sea, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This cyclical progression allows it to resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.