Blanche Massey, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This promotional card of Blanche Massey, one of the Actresses series by Kinney Brothers, presents us with a curious interplay of symbols. The rose, prominently displayed on her hat and clutched in her hand, is more than mere decoration. It speaks to a long lineage of symbolic association with love, beauty, and secrecy. We see this echoed through time, from its use in ancient Greek and Roman iconography to its adoption by the Rosicrucians as an emblem of esoteric knowledge. But look closely at the flower, here, set against the bold statement of her hat. The hat, as it has been since ancient times, is a marker of status, as much as it is a source of protection or statement of fashion. The rose softens its harsh lines. Similarly, in Botticelli’s “Primavera”, flowers scattered across the canvas suggest fertility and renewal. Here, the rose softens the artifice of the image, hinting at hidden depths beneath the surface. The image of the rose continues to appear in myriad forms, constantly reshaped by the collective unconscious, a testament to the enduring power of symbols.