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

Curator: Here we have “Highwayman, from the Occupations for Women series (N166) for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes” by Goodwin & Company, dating back to 1887. You can find it here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a print made with coloured pencils. Editor: Okay, first impression? It’s delightfully cheeky. A woman dressed, or rather under-dressed, as a highwayman. It has this… slightly theatrical, tongue-in-cheek quality. Curator: Indeed. It’s part of a series, and these cards were originally included in cigarette packs. Think of them as miniature emblems of aspiration. Editor: So, what does it all signify? The highwayman imagery, the attire… she's armed to the teeth but styled for romance? Curator: Absolutely. The figure subverts typical gender roles, a woman adopting a traditionally masculine, adventurous profession. The cigarette cards hint at the burgeoning independence of women, though viewed through a lens that's undeniably filtered by the male gaze. Editor: I see the duality. There’s empowerment here, yes, in claiming a ‘man’s job,’ but also a definite element of…well, objectification, given how her costume accentuates certain features. It's both rebellious and conforming. The colouring looks faded as though she is an image fading away slowly but remaining. Curator: It speaks to a broader societal tension—women entering new spaces while still bound by restrictive expectations. Editor: I find the rifle rather… charmingly large! Like a child playing dress-up. But perhaps it highlights the absurd reality of breaking societal norms. Curator: It definitely plays on contrasts and contradictions. Editor: In the 21st century, it feels both incredibly dated and surprisingly relevant. Are we still struggling with similar paradoxes? Curator: Arguably so. The echoes of historical image patterns are frequently noticed. Editor: This cigarette card holds so many complex layers of what it means to be independent and female, so a lot to consider even in a small artwork like this one.