Hollyhock: Ambition, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This charming 1892 color lithograph, created by Donaldson Brothers for the American Tobacco Company’s Duke brand cigarettes, belongs to the “Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers” series. Measuring just 2¾ by 1½ inches, the card was designed as an insert for cigarette packs, turning everyday tobacco purchases into opportunities for collecting and contemplation. The central figure of a woman paired with hollyhocks evokes the Victorian “language of flowers,” in which the tall, vibrant blooms symbolized ambition and aspiration. Color lithography allowed such cards to be produced inexpensively yet with bright, appealing hues, making art accessible to a broad public at the height of the Gilded Age. These ephemera not only promoted brand loyalty but also reflected popular cultural interests in botany, symbolism, and feminine ideals. Today the piece offers a glimpse into how commercial imagery blended beauty, moral messages, and marketing in the late nineteenth century. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Burdick Collection, the print reminds us that even the smallest objects can carry layered stories of taste, desire, and social aspiration.

About the Artist

Donaldson Brothers|American Tobacco Company (American| ) · 1850 | –1870 |

American, New York|