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

This chromolithograph from the American Tobacco Company was made to be included in packs of Duke brand cigarettes. It belongs to a series called “Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers” and pairs an image of a woman with that of a geranium. These collectible cards were hugely popular in the late nineteenth century United States. Often included in cigarette packs, they promoted the brand while also offering consumers appealing images on a range of subjects. The “language of flowers” was a popular cultural phenomenon at this time, ascribing symbolic meanings to different blooms. Here, the geranium is linked to “recall,” suggesting memory and remembrance. What memories were being invoked, and for whom? As an art historian, I’m interested in the way these images reflect a collective yearning for connection, beauty, and sentimental expression in a rapidly industrializing society. Researching the history of advertising, consumer culture, and the popular fascination with flowers would help us understand the cultural work this humble image once performed.