Tulip: A Declaration of Love, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

This chromolithograph was produced by the American Tobacco Company as part of a series called Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers. The Victorians turned flowers into a veritable lexicon of sentiment, with each bloom bearing its own symbolic weight. Here, the radiant tulip signifies a ‘declaration of love’, an emblem of affection conveyed through its vibrant petals. But let us consider how flowers have acted as silent messengers across time. Think of Ophelia in Hamlet, distributing symbolic flowers that reveal her inner turmoil. Or Botticelli’s Primavera, where Flora scatters blossoms, embodying renewal and the cyclical nature of life. Even earlier, in ancient Egypt, floral offerings were placed in tombs to symbolize rebirth and eternal life. This act echoes through the centuries, reflecting our subconscious desire to connect with nature's enduring beauty. This seemingly simple image of a flower is much more than botanical illustration. It is an emblem, imbued with cultural memory, speaking to our deepest emotions. The image is a powerful example of how symbols resurface, evolving in meaning, yet always tethered to the human experience.