Card Number 599, Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features actress Geraldine Ulmer. Note the flower she wears, reminiscent of Flora, the Roman goddess of springtime and flowers. The flower motif, laden with associations of youth, beauty, and renewal, has its roots in antiquity. We can trace its evolution through Botticelli’s *Primavera*, where Flora presides over a garden of earthly delights. This symbol is not confined to the realm of high art; it resurfaces in various forms, from folk traditions to commercial imagery. In the context of this card, the flower serves to elevate Ulmer, associating her with timeless ideals. The human psyche is drawn to these recurring symbols. They tap into a collective memory, evoking a sense of continuity and connecting us to the past. Flowers possess the power to evoke emotions and memories on a subconscious level. Thus, the image of Ulmer with her flower becomes part of an ongoing dialogue, a testament to the cyclical nature of symbols and their enduring resonance across cultures.