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

Editor: This is "Servant, from the Occupations for Women series," created around 1887 by Goodwin & Company. It's a watercolor print. I'm struck by the... theatricality of it all. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, the symbolism inherent in the "Occupations for Women" series captures my attention. Consider the cultural memory embedded within such a depiction of "servitude" presented with this elaborate, almost burlesque costuming. What kind of narrative do you think this was trying to build? What emotional reaction were they trying to evoke from their audience? Editor: I hadn't thought about it as trying to create a narrative, more of just showing, but, I suppose there's a subtle humor. Or perhaps a kind of aspirational marketing by association? Like "If you buy these cigarettes, beautiful women will serve you"? Curator: Precisely! But consider how this resonates with deeper psychological concepts. The archetype of the server, the giver. The way it almost parodies or, dare I say, playfully "fetishizes" it, drawing on, perhaps unconscious, cultural notions of women’s roles and how they can be reinterpreted...or repurposed for advertisements. What persistent cultural memories do you see reflected here? Editor: Well, clearly it touches on the ideas about women in service, but reframes the labor with playful dress and perhaps humor—or even fantasy—by presenting it within the context of advertisements. The "Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes" suggest a relaxed leisure and access to this ideal. I never thought how charged such a seemingly simple picture was! Curator: Indeed, it’s the enduring power of imagery. I mean, that single glass of beer evokes celebration! I think exploring how this type of symbolism can be re-appropriated, or continue to hold meaning today, can make understanding artwork all the more fascinating. Editor: Absolutely. Now I can appreciate the image a lot more! Thanks!