Putting the Shot, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *Putting the Shot*, a gem from Goodwin & Company's *Games and Sports* series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889. This commercial color lithograph, measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, captures the dynamic intensity of the shot put—a track and field event showcasing strength and precision. Rendered in bold chromolithography, it features athletes in action, blending male and female figures amid the era's growing fascination with organized sports. Chromolithography, a pioneering technique of the time, allowed for mass-produced, vividly hued images at low cost, revolutionizing ephemera like these trade cards tucked into cigarette packs. Goodwin & Company, a major tobacco firm, distributed millions to boost brand loyalty, making collecting a popular pastime. Part of the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this card exemplifies how commerce fueled visual culture. Culturally, it reflects the late Victorian surge in athletics, predating the modern Olympics by seven years and promoting ideals of physical prowess across genders. A tiny window into leisure, marketing, and sport's rise, it invites us to ponder how everyday objects shaped our shared history.

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...