Tourist, from the Occupations of Women series (N502) for Frishmuth's Tobacco Company 1889

This advertisement card titled 'Tourist' is part of the Occupations of Women series, created for Frishmuth's Tobacco Company. These cards emerged in an era of shifting gender roles, as women were gradually entering the workforce. The series depicts women engaging in various occupations, reflecting both the opportunities and the constraints of the time. This image shows a woman using binoculars, dressed in a non-traditional hiking outfit and leaning on a walking stick. Although the woman is dressed in traditionally feminine attire, the fact she is participating in an outdoor activity suggests a degree of freedom and agency not often afforded to women at the time. However, these representations were often filtered through the male gaze, reinforcing certain stereotypes and expectations. The woman’s attire is both functional and suggestive, embodying the tightrope women walked between empowerment and objectification. Tourist offers us a glimpse into the complex negotiation of identity, gender, and representation during a transformative period in history.