Snowball: Thoughts of Heaven, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

Editor: This is "Snowball: Thoughts of Heaven" from 1892, made by the American Tobacco Company. It's a small print, part of a series of floral beauties. I find the serene look of the woman combined with what seems like commercial intentions very intriguing, but in a complicated way. What can you tell me about this image? Curator: Well, it's fascinating to view this piece through the lens of its time. Consider that in the late 19th century, cigarette cards like these were hugely popular advertising tools. This image attempts to associate smoking, specifically Duke brand cigarettes, with beauty, purity and even higher ideals suggested in its title and design. The "Snowball" flower here reinforces the ideal. Editor: So, it’s less about artistic expression and more about manipulative marketing? Curator: In some ways, yes, but that’s precisely why it’s valuable to us now. It tells us so much about how commercial culture permeated society. The idealisation of women was intertwined with commercial gain. The "Thoughts of Heaven" title juxtaposed with a product like cigarettes can also invite a social commentary. How do you interpret that particular element, given your initial reaction? Editor: I see how this combination complicates our understanding, highlighting a very strange commercial angle for tobacco in its attempts at association. So, while it seems simple, this image really packs a punch regarding its social context. Curator: Exactly! This image gives insight into the politics of imagery during the late 19th century. Its charm, and ultimately what it represents in advertising ideals, invites you to investigate its significance. Editor: Thank you! Thinking about its original purpose definitely shifted how I perceived the image! Curator: Indeed, understanding its history gives a powerful understanding.