Actress from the Old Judge series (N167) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886

Editor: So this little gem, "Actress from the Old Judge series," made in 1886 by Goodwin & Company, depicts an actress on what seems to be a cigarette card. She looks…caught in a private moment, perhaps adjusting her stocking? It has such an intimate feeling about it, even though it's such a mass-produced object. What stands out to you? Curator: Intimacy amid mass production, what a delicious contradiction! This piece makes me think about fleeting moments, both the actress's and the viewer's. Imagine someone finding this card, a momentary escape amidst the smoky haze and the daily grind. What dreams, what fantasies might it spark? And do you think she looks like she’s performing, or caught off guard? Editor: I think a little of both? There’s a deliberateness to her pose, but also a vulnerability in her expression. What do you mean about fantasies, though? Curator: Well, these cards were essentially mini-fantasies slipped into cigarette packs. In a way, they democratized access to beauty and aspiration. Everyday folks could collect images of actresses, athletes, exotic landscapes… it's like Instagram for the 1880s, offering a curated glimpse into a glamorous "other" world. I wonder if our actress understood that she would become an object of widespread consumption and, dare I say, desire? Editor: Wow, I never thought of it that way, like an early form of influencer culture! It’s almost unsettling to think about the layers of representation going on here. It really speaks to how photography, drawing, printmaking – all these mediums – have worked together across time. Curator: Exactly! These "Old Judge" cards blur the lines between art, advertising, and aspiration. They remind us that images, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, carry a lot of cultural weight. The idea that these images live on in museums just tickles me, what do you think? Editor: It's really amazing, I think I understand the cultural importance a lot better now. Thanks!