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

This small chromolithograph was produced by Goodwin & Company around 1888 as a collectible card for Old Judge Cigarettes. It depicts a “Pedestrian Contest”, a popular form of competitive walking or running in the late 19th century. These contests were often community events, drawing large crowds and offering significant prize money. The image creates meaning through its depiction of athletic competition, the inclusion of the fashionable woman on the right, and historical associations. Consider how the rise of mass media and consumer culture in America intersected to create new forms of entertainment and advertising. The cigarette card was both a promotional tool and a collectible item, reflecting the growing importance of branding and visual culture in American society. As historians, we might consult period newspapers, advertisements, and sporting records to better understand the social and economic context of pedestrian contests and the role of tobacco companies in sponsoring these events. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.