Fishing, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This small chromolithograph entitled 'Fishing' was produced in the United States around 1888 by Goodwin & Company, as part of a series of collectible cards included in Old Judge Cigarettes. Printed advertisements like these offer a window into the culture of the late 19th century. The scene depicts a fashionably dressed couple enjoying a leisurely day of fishing, suggesting both the rising popularity of outdoor recreation and the idealized vision of middle-class life. The woman’s elaborate dress and hat mark her as a consumer of fashion, part of the growing consumer culture. Consider the commercial context of this image: it aims to associate smoking cigarettes with leisure, luxury, and the good life. To fully understand the image, we might delve into periodicals and etiquette guides of the time. These provide information about popular pastimes, social norms, and the burgeoning advertising industry. By considering this artwork within its specific historical and commercial context, we can better understand its meanings and motivations.