Card 332, Rose Coghlan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This photographic card, created by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, presents actress Rose Coghlan accompanied by two children. The most striking symbol is the motif of the flower bouquet worn by the actress. Throughout history, flowers have been powerful symbols, representing life's ephemeral beauty and the inevitability of decay. In classical antiquity, floral offerings were common in religious rites, linking the human to the divine. This motif recurs in Renaissance paintings, often adorning portraits of women to symbolize virtue and transient beauty. Over time, these floral symbols have evolved; their emotional impact remains potent, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Ultimately, the bouquet worn by Coghlan embodies the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth, connecting her image to a long lineage of artistic and cultural expressions that transcend time.