Sprig Soda ad illustration 

Edward Runci created this advertising illustration for Sprig Soda, featuring a woman holding a bottle of the beverage. The image is dominated by a green color palette, and the sprig motif is prominent. Consider the symbolism of the sprig; a small stem bearing leaves, evocative of youth, freshness, and vitality. Throughout history, greenery has been associated with life, rebirth, and nature's bounty. Think of the ancient Roman festivals honoring Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, where participants adorned themselves with garlands of leaves to invoke fertility and prosperity. Here, the sprig, emblazoned on the soda label, taps into our collective memory, connecting the beverage with the life-affirming qualities of the natural world. This evokes a psychological response, promising rejuvenation and sensory pleasure. The cyclical progression of this symbol persists, resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new meanings in different historical contexts.