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

Editor: This is "Rowing, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes" by Goodwin & Company, dating back to 1889. It's a coloured-pencil print, and the composition strikes me as quite unusual with the combination of the rower and the fashionable young woman. What do you see in this piece, with all its interesting layers? Curator: I see a layered narrative deeply embedded in its visual symbols. The image pulls together multiple stories within one frame. We see not only the sport itself—the physical exertion and competition—but also the society that surrounds and supports it. Editor: That's a wonderful way to put it. What specifically points to the supporting society? Curator: Look at the fashionable woman: she seems like an allegory of sorts, perhaps representing victory or the spirit of the games. And note her placement – adjacent to the parasol but dominating much of the space. It is worth considering what symbols are being mobilized here to subtly suggest certain social mores. It is, after all, an advertisement. How might her clothing impact the interpretation? Editor: Right, I didn't consider her clothes! Her nautical style almost mirrors the sport itself, visually linking her to the activity, but her passive gaze makes me wonder what the overall intention was. It does seem like they’re aiming to connect athleticism to a sense of sophisticated leisure. Curator: Precisely! This image also draws upon the symbol of water, linking to themes of fluidity, adaptability, and perhaps even deeper currents of social change and competition. So, what cultural memories does this artwork evoke for you? Editor: For me, it highlights how even a seemingly simple image can speak volumes about its time. Seeing this really makes you realize that even the ads of the past contain all sorts of social and historical narratives! Curator: Absolutely, the seemingly innocuous often holds the deepest symbolic resonance. A wonderful point!