McLaughlin, Jockey, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This is 'McLaughlin, Jockey', a chromolithograph from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. It is housed here at the Metropolitan Museum. The composition is neatly divided into pictorial and textual fields, each imparting its own distinct layer of meaning. The upper left background mirrors the jockey's cap, creating a cohesive color story, while the lower text anchors the piece in commercial context. This juxtaposition isn't merely aesthetic. The jockey, centrally posed, embodies a confluence of identity markers – his profession, nationality, and perhaps, personal ambition. Note how the starkly rendered eagle and flag allude to a certain American bravado. This interplay between personal identity and national symbol highlights the cultural narratives being sold along with the cigarettes. The piece challenges fixed meanings, prompting us to interpret the complex relationships between commerce, identity, and cultural representation.