Commissioner, from the Occupations for Women series (N166) for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Commissioner*, a gem from Goodwin & Company's *Occupations for Women* (N166), produced in 1887 for Old Judge and Dogs Headarettes. This petite commercial color lithograph, just 2 11/16 x 1 1/2 inches, captures woman in a professional role—likely as a commissioner—amid a time when such depictions challenged traditional gender norms. Issued as collectible trade cards tucked into cigarette packs, these ephemera were everyday treasures that sparked conversations and fueled collecting fads. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized printing with its ability to layer vivid colors affordably, making high-quality images accessible to the masses. Goodwin & Company, a pioneering tobacco firm, used this technique to promote their brands while subtly commenting on women's expanding opportunities during the Gilded Age, aligning with the era's suffrage and labor movements. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print highlights ephemera's artistic value—once dismissed as disposable, now celebrated for preserving cultural snapshots. Imagine a visitor in 1887 delighting over this card; today, it invites us to reflect on progress in women's professions.

About the Artist

Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950

**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...