Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis), from the Flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

Curator: Looking at this card, my first impression is surprisingly dramatic for something so delicate. The sharp contrast between the red and green backdrop and the white blossoms gives it real visual punch. Editor: Indeed. What you're seeing there is "Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis)," part of a series of flower prints made around 1890 for Old Judge Cigarettes. Curator: Cigarettes? That’s such an unexpected juxtaposition! A symbol of fragile beauty, advertising something so decidedly…un-fragile. It’s fascinating to consider the marketing strategy at play. Editor: Well, tobacco cards were quite popular at the time. Often inserted in packaging as stiffeners and for collection purposes, they offered companies an avenue into consumers' daily lives beyond mere advertising. The images acted as conversation starters, collectors’ items, cultural currency really. Curator: Yes, a potent little talisman of the everyday. The choice of Lily of the Valley then becomes really interesting. Throughout history, it’s carried so much symbolic weight. From purity and humility in Christian art, to representing good luck and a return to happiness, its image speaks volumes. The association with May Day, the return of spring, and notions of rebirth… Editor: And there's something about its presence here that’s intriguing. It’s not simply a standalone artwork; it's participating in the branding of a tobacco company, circulating within networks of exchange. The image’s distribution shaped perceptions, associating 'Old Judge' with nature, refinement, and beauty. Curator: A complex little package of contradictions. I find myself wondering, did people buying these cigarettes consciously connect with those layers of symbolic meaning? Did they see it as an aspiration, a charm against misfortune perhaps, or simply a pretty picture to collect? Editor: And this artwork serves as a powerful reminder. It shows us how these images permeated daily life, quietly influencing desires, and ideals, while blurring the lines between commerce and culture. Curator: Exactly. It reminds us that even something as seemingly simple as a flower, meticulously rendered in watercolor and print, could function as a powerful instrument within a particular social and economic landscape.