Irish Setter, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

Curator: Looking at this small print of an Irish Setter, dated around 1890, what strikes you? It is a color print created by Goodwin & Company, part of their “Dogs of the World” series, originally intended as an advertisement inserted in Old Judge Cigarettes. Editor: It feels distinctly… commercial. Clean, uncomplicated. There is something very clinical about the dog’s pose, with its profile and the lighting so carefully arranged. This image feels very crafted, almost as if trying to project an elevated sensibility despite its consumerist goals. Curator: I see that. Consider how the coloring book lines, coupled with stippled background, lend a particular texture. Do you perceive any stylistic elements that stand out? For me, the color usage indicates the late 19th century and its new printing capabilities and growing marketing approaches. Editor: Right, the texture is key. It is there to signify “realism”, which has more to do with what consumers expect in terms of representation, not the dog itself. Think of it as a construction—the dog stands in as a representative, an idea of breed purity linked to class identity, easily digested. Advertising aimed for and reinforced aspiration, and pet ownership would have certainly played a role. Curator: So, beyond its advertising function, what would you argue this work communicates to contemporary audiences? The composition highlights the sleek, purebred lines of the Irish Setter. Its fur has rich chestnut tones. It clearly serves a commercial need, yet the artistic rendering remains technically proficient. Editor: Yes, there is technical proficiency, no doubt. But what I find fascinating is how this image actively participates in constructing breed, class, and even human-animal relations at the time. To whose standards must these dogs adhere, who gets to make the final decision, and how are these cultural expectations perpetuated today? The image isn’t just about selling cigarettes. Curator: It is difficult to disagree with your emphasis on historical and social meaning in this advertisement; by exploring this print, one certainly confronts multiple layers of representation and the cultural values ingrained within visual objects. Editor: Precisely. This small, seemingly insignificant piece of ephemera reflects the immense societal pressures circulating in the late 19th century.