Crosby S. Noyes, The Washington Evening Star, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This is a late nineteenth-century lithograph of Crosby S. Noyes, editor of The Washington Evening Star, part of Allen & Ginter’s American Editors series. Noyes is depicted alongside the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Note how the Capitol, with its dome, is framed by trees. This framing evokes the idea of a sacred space, reminiscent of classical temples set within groves. The dome itself has an interesting history. It is a symbol of power and authority that can be traced back to ancient Roman architecture. Yet, here it is softened. The trees naturalize this emblem of human intellect, of civic power, of reason. They suggest the image has an emotional power, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The motif of framing civic structures with nature reminds us that symbols constantly evolve, resurfacing across epochs with nuanced significance.