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

Curator: This lithograph from 1892 titled "Rhododendron: Expectancy," originates from a series called "Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers," and it was made to be included in Duke brand cigarette packs. Editor: The whole thing is delicate—there's almost a hushed quality to it. The soft watercolor tones evoke such gentle anticipation, like holding your breath before a secret is revealed. Curator: Yes, the imagery is subtle, and there is much symbolism within this simple image. Notice how the rhododendron flower itself has come to signify “beware” but can also represent elegance and beauty depending on who receives it as a gift. It underscores how symbolic languages are socially constructed. Editor: It really brings home the idea that even in something as fleeting as a cigarette card, there’s an embedded, class-based social code. Expectancy, beauty, and perhaps a hint of danger all wrapped into this feminine ideal. What was considered desirable at the time and why? Who were they expecting? A partner, freedom, prosperity, change? Curator: Considering that the visual vocabulary of flowers carries a rich cultural load, in this specific image, it emphasizes the social script around women’s behavior. Perhaps this tobacco company hoped to seduce their audience into purchasing their goods through this series that paired both commercial value and social capital. Editor: Absolutely. We should never dismiss something like a cigarette card as simple advertisement. This speaks volumes about turn-of-the-century constructions of womanhood and class, with a side of floral symbolism thrown into the mix. It really encapsulates so many expectations. Curator: Indeed, I’m left pondering how these once common items held deeper symbolic currency than we might realize today, mirroring and perpetuating societal aspirations. Editor: Right? It reminds us that even mundane commercial items are worth scrutiny—they are packed full of meaning if you simply take a moment to unravel their silent stories.