Calla Lily (Richardia Nethiopica), from the Flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This is Calla Lily, Richardia Nethiopica, a color lithograph created by Goodwin & Company in the late 19th century for Old Judge Cigarettes. The calla lily, with its elegant, trumpet-like form, has long carried symbolic weight. Its pristine white color suggests purity and innocence. The flower's association with the Virgin Mary in Christian iconography is undeniable. We also see it in ancient Minoan art, where lilies adorned frescoes, symbolizing royalty and divine power. This connection to divinity and purity evolved, and the calla lily became a popular motif in Victorian art, often symbolizing beauty and refinement. Yet, lurking beneath its surface, a more carnal symbolism arose, hinting at eroticism and fertility. Such visual language engages our subconscious, resonating with primal instincts and desires passed down through generations. This duality—purity and sensuality—makes the calla lily a potent symbol, continually reborn in art and culture.