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

This small color lithograph, made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes, imagines a woman as a coachman. Produced in the late 19th century in the United States, this image reflects a moment of great social change. It was the height of the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of the Progressive Era. While industrialization created new economic opportunities for some, it also entrenched existing class divisions and gender roles. Here, the image challenges those roles by envisioning a woman in a traditionally male occupation, thus subtly questioning the restrictive social norms of the time. The "Occupations for Women" series, to which this belongs, hints at both the anxieties and the progressive aspirations of the era. Exploring the history of advertising and popular culture through archives and historical societies can give us insight into the complex relationship between art, commerce, and social change.