Water Dog, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 13/16 in. (3.8 x 7.1 cm)
Classification
Prints|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
63.350.214.163.50
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, cigarette manufacturers like Goodwin & Company cleverly boosted sales through collectible trade cards, and *Water Dog* is a charming example from their *Dogs of the World* produced around 1890. These tiny chromolithographs—measuring just 1 ½ x 2 13/16 inches—were tucked into Old Judge cigarette packs, enticing smokers to collect the full set of international dog breeds. Depicting a sturdy water dog, likely a retriever or spaniel suited for retrieving game from water, it captures Victorian fascination with purebred dogs as symbols of status and utility. Printed via co...
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...