Sculptor, from the Occupations for Women series (N166) for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes 1887

Editor: Here we have “Sculptor, from the Occupations for Women series,” a drawing from 1887 by Goodwin & Company, currently housed at The Met. It looks like colored pencil, maybe even a print? I’m struck by the somewhat…performative nature of this artist portrait. The red beret, the dark stockings, and she's delicately working on a sculpture. What’s your take on this, given its context? Curator: "Performative" is a lovely reading. It’s fascinating to see how even in commercial art, there’s room for subtle rebellion. I sense an assertive vision, almost playful – do you think the red beret is winking at us? Editor: Maybe a wink? Or is it more of a brazen stare? What does it mean that she's being presented this way, with that gaze, but as part of a series meant to promote…cigarettes? Curator: Ah, the delightful paradox! Tobacco cards often romanticized the emerging roles of women. She’s presented as both professional and conventionally fashionable. Think about the very tactile nature of sculpture – is she molding societal expectations as much as the clay? And does the act of portraying this female sculptor somehow legitimise women to enter new spaces? It makes one think, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely something to chew on! The sculpture she’s working on feels… unfinished. Almost like the concept of women in these roles is itself a work in progress. Thanks for the insights! Curator: It’s truly a pleasure – seeing these images again with your sharp perspective helps bring the statue, and the story, to life for all of us!