Mexican Hairless, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This small, chromolithographic card of a Mexican Hairless dog comes from a series by Goodwin & Company, dating somewhere between 1850 and 1950. Immediately, the dog’s smooth form, rendered in subtle gradations of grey and brown, draws the eye. The background is a simple cream, grounded by a mottled blue and white patch suggesting earth or cloud. Consider the card’s semiotic function. As part of a series of dogs, its purpose is representation, yet it transcends mere depiction. The dog is elegantly posed, its lithe body and alert stance conveying a sense of refined exoticism. The precise lines and subtle shading articulate its form, while the simplified background focuses attention on the animal itself. The image operates within a larger cultural framework. Issued by a cigarette company, it serves as both advertisement and collectible, appealing to consumers' desires for novelty and status. The card’s miniature scale invites close inspection, transforming the viewer into a collector. It's a system of signs that engages us even today.