Mabel Millett as "The Tiger Lily," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

Editor: This is "Mabel Millett as 'The Tiger Lily,'" a colored-pencil print from 1889, part of a series of fancy dress ball costumes for Duke brand cigarettes. It's quite charming, but the flower seems so deliberately placed, almost like a brand itself. What is the deeper symbolic meaning here? Curator: The tiger lily, a potent symbol, transcends mere decoration. Think about the Victorian language of flowers: The tiger lily could symbolize pride, wealth, confidence, but even a suggestion of disdain. Consider that tobacco cards like this, even if ostensibly promoting beauty and elegance, served the purpose of consumerism and habituation. Do you notice how the gaze avoids direct engagement? Editor: Yes, she's looking off to the side, almost wistfully. And there’s a certain flatness, even in the coloring. It doesn’t feel like a true portrait. Curator: It presents an idealized type rather than an individualized woman. The "Tiger Lily" isn’t simply a costume; it's a persona. The cultural memory attached to flowers, to ideal beauty, and, of course, to the product itself, all coalesce. Think about the ephemeral nature of the cigarette card versus the enduring appeal of the “feminine ideal.” Editor: So the tiger lily, and the way Mabel embodies it, reflects not just beauty but also something manufactured and fleeting? Curator: Precisely. It raises interesting questions about how we consume both images and commodities, doesn't it? How are ephemeral visual styles preserved? Editor: Definitely. It is a reminder of how layered a seemingly simple image can be, and how many messages it can hold. Thanks so much. Curator: My pleasure. It's through these dialogues we revitalize our understanding.