China Aster: Versatility, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

Editor: So, this is a lithograph from 1892 titled "China Aster: Versatility," part of the "Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers" series by the American Tobacco Company. It’s so delicate and charming; the way the woman is framed by the blossoms feels intentional, almost staged. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: This piece, though created as a promotional item, taps into a deeper cultural understanding of flowers as symbols. The Victorians were keen on assigning meanings to different blooms, weren’t they? Editor: Yes! So, the China Aster…what does its inclusion here suggest, particularly given its pairing with this woman? Curator: The China Aster, as indicated in the title, signifies 'versatility.' Think about what "versatility" may have suggested in the 1890s regarding ideal womanhood and expanding roles for women, versus traditional roles. Also, it is not just any aster, but a *China* aster – the exotic, the slightly dangerous allure of the orient was very present. The woman's portrait is intertwined with that exotic bloom. Editor: So it’s about a sort of coded language regarding the modern woman, wrapped up in these flowers? It almost feels like a secret message on the cigarette cards. Curator: Exactly! The seemingly innocent floral imagery carried this nuanced message of possibility. Notice her soft but confident gaze and how it subverts some established symbols of the time. This card creates a visual representation of womanhood in flux. Does the symbolism resonate today, do you think? Editor: It's interesting how the piece captures a very particular moment, a tension between tradition and change. It is almost a historical document that encodes social anxieties and aspirations. I will certainly look at flower paintings with a fresh eye now. Curator: Indeed! Images carry cultural memories, and we learn a great deal when we unpack their layers of meaning, and recognize our cultural heritage through such visual cues.