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

Curator: This small print, now at the Met, is entitled "Orchid: Trust," from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers, and it was created around 1892 for Duke brand cigarettes. Editor: It's quite charming, with this girl nestled among orchids. It feels light, airy, almost dreamlike with its soft colors. There’s an innocence to her gaze. Curator: The images of the "floral beauties" in these series were part of the merchandising of the cigarette brand; the company aimed at urban consumerism. Collecting the entire set became popular with cigarette buyers. Editor: The orchid, of course, has long been associated with beauty, refinement, and even eroticism. The Victorians especially ascribed great symbolic meaning to flowers – do you think the pairing with a young girl intentionally downplays any suggestive associations of the flower itself? Curator: That is very likely. By featuring children or idealized portraits alongside floral symbols, the company softened the edges, making it accessible and appealing to a broader consumer base within Victorian social norms. And we can see hints of Japonisme influencing the composition too. Editor: Absolutely, that flattening of space and emphasis on decorative patterns feel very present. So "Trust," connected to the orchid. What aspects of trust did the orchid suggest at the time? Is it about trusting in the exotic beauty of faraway places from which the flower came, the 'refinement' as you mentioned? Curator: Precisely! It speaks to aspiration. By associating their product with floral beauty and innocence, the American Tobacco Company wanted to position themselves as purveyors of accessible refinement. It speaks to a cultural shift where consumer goods became linked with concepts of status and well-being. Editor: It is amazing how consumerism embeds in our collective symbolism and language, isn't it? And this orchid girl now quietly represents a bygone era of trust placed in both beauty and branding. Curator: Indeed, it reminds us that cultural values are very dynamic and reflected in unexpected places like cigarette cards, transforming mundane objects into revealing artifacts.