Edgar Allan Poe, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This lithograph of Edgar Allan Poe, part of the Great Americans series by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents us with potent symbols from the world of cultural memory. Behold the raven perched ominously atop a classical bust—a juxtaposition that speaks volumes. The raven, long associated with ill omen and mystery, gains particular resonance when considered in the context of Poe's own dark themes. It appears like a modern-day echo of the ravens of Odin, birds that brought news from the land of the dead in Norse mythology. But here, it is domesticated, attached to the Western canon as a symbol of romanticism and the obsession with death and beauty. Such imagery transcends mere historical reference; it delves into the collective subconscious, evoking primal fears and fascinations that continue to haunt the human psyche. The composition, laden with such intense symbolic weight, engages us on a profound, emotional level. Through this unlikely confluence of symbols, we confront the cyclical nature of symbols, forever resurfacing and adapting.