From the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes
1886–90
Medium
Albumen photograph
Dimensions
sheet: 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.9 x 3.5 cm)
Classification
Photographs|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.215.171.59
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming albumen photograph, titled *From the Actors and Actresses series (N171)*, was produced by Goodwin & Company 1886 and 1890 as a promotional insert for Old Judge Cigarettes. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this petite portrait captures a poised female performer, emblematic of the era's luminaries. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and sensitizing it with silver salts, were the gold standard for photography then, delivering sharp details and warm tones ideal for mass reproduction. In the Gilded Age, cigarette cards like this one exploded in popularity, tu...
About the Artist
Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950
**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...