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

This small lithograph was printed by Goodwin & Company as part of a series of cigarette cards, mass-produced and distributed to promote Old Judge and Dog's Head Cigarettes. Printed on thin card stock, the color lithography process allowed for inexpensive reproductions in large quantities. This process enabled consumer culture and mass media to promote certain ideals. The occupation of ‘Sailor’, and others in the series, reflects changing social roles for women around the turn of the century, and as such, it is both progressive and highly commodified. The romanticized figure is devoid of any real labor. Instead, it becomes a brand symbol, meant to be collected, consumed, and discarded. The material of the card, its printing process, and the image itself, all speak to the growth of industry and consumer culture. By looking at the materials and context, we can understand the card as a complex object, both art and advertisement, revealing much about the period in which it was made.