General, 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 *General*, a charming commercial color lithograph from Goodwin & Company's *Occupations for Women* (N166), produced in 1887 for Old Judge and Dogs Headarettes. This tiny card, measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 1/2 inches, captures a woman boldly dressed as a military general—complete with epaulets and a stern gaze—challenging Victorian gender norms in a playful yet provocative way. Issued as collectible inserts in cigarette packs, these ephemera were designed to boost sales by appealing to enthusiasts who traded and albumed them like modern trading cards. The lithographic technique shines here, enabling bold, multi-hued printing on a mass scale that made such vivid imagery affordable and widespread. Part of a series imagining women in diverse professions, it reflects the era's growing debates on female independence amid industrialization, blending humor with subtle advocacy. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection (a gift from the famed ephemera collector), this print offers a window into Gilded Age consumer culture and the slow march toward women's societal roles. (198 words)

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...