Forget-Me-Not, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes 1892

This is 'Forget-Me-Not', a chromolithograph trading card by the American Tobacco Company. Notice the symmetrical arrangement, with the woman's portrait framed by the arching forget-me-nots. The soft pastel palette – the blues of the flowers and dress, the pinkish skin tones – creates a gentle, romantic mood. The texture, achieved through the lithographic process, softens the image, giving it a dreamlike quality. The composition employs a visual language that speaks to themes of memory and beauty. The flowers act as a sign, encoding cultural values associated with remembrance and affection. The portrait, though seemingly straightforward, is mediated through the lens of commercial symbolism and idealized femininity. The card's purpose—to sell cigarettes—complicates any straightforward interpretation. The semiotic structure of the card operates on multiple levels, inviting viewers to decode its layers of meaning.