Patrick Fitzgerald, Pedestrian, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is Patrick Fitzgerald, "Pedestrian", from the Goodwin Champion series, printed in 1888, part of a promotional series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. It appears to be an etching. The subject’s proud stance, arms crossed, has an almost heroic quality, yet the bright colors and his somewhat unusual outfit give it a strange edge. How do you interpret this work in the context of its time? Curator: Well, consider how consumer culture and advertising were transforming in the late 19th century. Cigarette cards like this one weren't just about selling tobacco; they were about associating products with aspirational figures – in this case, a prominent athlete. Do you notice the rather exaggerated musculature, the slightly comedic presentation? Editor: Yes, it feels… cartoonish almost. Curator: Precisely! That caricature wasn't just incidental. These images served a dual purpose: to promote a brand *and* to democratize access to celebrity. Common folk could possess a likeness of a sporting hero. It also solidified ideas about athleticism. Does this inform or challenge prevailing social norms or politics? What happens when sport is seen as spectacle and consumption? Editor: That’s really interesting. So, the seemingly straightforward image actually speaks volumes about the era’s consumer culture and ideas about celebrity. It's making me reconsider how I see advertising even today. Curator: Exactly! Seeing this figure packaged with a consumer good provides some nuance when examining the popular cultural of this moment.