Bluebells (Campanula rotundifolia), from the Flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This is a chromolithograph of bluebells, Campanula rotundifolia, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. The bluebell, or bellflower, is not merely a botanical specimen, but a vessel of cultural memory. Across centuries, bells have signified both joyful announcement and solemn warning. Here, the bellflower carries a similar duality. Its vibrant blue hue, often associated with faithfulness and constancy, hints at a deeper, perhaps melancholic undercurrent. Think of the Renaissance depictions of the Madonna, swathed in robes of the same intense blue. This color evokes a sense of spiritual purity, yet also suggests a poignant sorrow, a premonition of inevitable suffering. The bluebell, like the Madonna’s robe, engages us on a visceral level. It is a reminder that beauty and sorrow are not mutually exclusive, but intertwined aspects of the human experience. The image resurfaces; a testament to the enduring power of symbols to evoke complex emotions.