Cornflower: Modesty, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

This small lithograph, "Cornflower: Modesty" from the Floral Beauties series, was created by the American Tobacco Company. Its compact design is immediately striking with its composition of a young woman encircled by cornflowers against a muted backdrop. The lithographic technique allows for a delicate balance between the precise rendering of the woman’s features and the more stylized depiction of the surrounding flora. The artwork's structure hinges on the interplay between the figure and floral elements. The cornflowers, framing the woman's portrait, suggest a semiotic system that links her to the qualities of the flower itself, as the title indicates, "Modesty". The choice of color—the soft blues of the flowers, contrasted with the warmer tones of the woman’s skin—functions to draw the viewer's eye, guiding it through the image. Ultimately, this lithograph is not merely a commercial token; it is a meticulously constructed field of visual signs. It subtly explores the cultural values attached to both the natural world and female representation at the time.