Connecticut, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This lithograph was made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes and features the flag of Connecticut. The central motif consists of three grapevines, each bearing fruit. This choice is hardly accidental; grapevines have long been potent symbols in Western culture, representing fertility, abundance, and, most notably, transformation through sacrifice, as seen in their religious use to symbolize the blood of Christ. Consider the Dionysian rites of ancient Greece, where grapes and wine induced ecstatic states, blurring the lines between the human and the divine. This symbolism resurfaces in medieval tapestries, Renaissance paintings, and even modern advertising. Here, the humble grapevine, emblazoned on a state flag, suggests not just agricultural prosperity but a deeper connection to primal, transformative forces. It speaks to our collective yearning for renewal. This symbol connects us through centuries. It shows how images evolve, adapt, and continue to resonate within the human psyche.