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

This small lithograph, part of a series by Goodwin & Company, presents an apprentice, identified by the tools of her trade: shoes. The shoe, a symbol of craft and labor, carries with it echoes of ancient traditions, evoking images of Hermes, the swift-footed messenger of the gods, whose winged sandals enabled him to traverse realms. Here, the apprentice raises one shoe aloft, an echo of Nike, goddess of victory, also often depicted with winged sandals, her gesture holding forth a trophy. The shoe, once a mere object of utility, is now imbued with potential, a symbol of the apprentice's aspirations and the promise of mastery. Yet, one senses a deeper resonance. The gesture and composition of the image evoke a sense of the dynamism, mirroring the complexities of memory and the enduring power of symbols. The motifs we see—the raised shoe, the victorious pose—are non-linear and cyclical, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across historical contexts.