Ring in the Glad New Year, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This chromolithograph, created around 1890 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, depicts a sprite ringing in the New Year with oversized bells. Bells, throughout history, have been sounded to mark significant events, from religious ceremonies to declarations of peace. The joyous ringing embodies a collective desire for renewal and hope that resonates deeply within our shared cultural memory. Think of church bells, summoning communities, or the celebratory peals announcing victory. Notice how the youth covers his ears, overwhelmed by the sound. This gesture speaks to the overwhelming, almost visceral experience of transition and change. It appears in various contexts – from depictions of martyrdom to moments of intense emotional realization – capturing a moment of profound, often jarring, awareness. Symbols and iconography are not static; their meanings evolve, shaped by the currents of history and the subconscious echoes of past experiences. The bells, the youth, the holly, they all are a part of a recurring motif, adapted and reinterpreted across time, reminding us of the cyclical nature of human experience and the enduring power of images to evoke deep emotional responses.