Parole, from the Race Horses series (N168) for Canvas Backs Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: This is "Parole, from the Race Horses series," created by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890. It's a graphite and colored pencil print, and there's a distinct feeling of bygone eras radiating from the picture. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Immediately, the name “Parole” captures my attention. Consider its multiple meanings – a word, a promise, or even a release. Here, coupled with the image of a racehorse, it evokes the complex social narratives embedded in equine symbolism. In the late 19th century, horses represented power, wealth, and freedom. But what kind of freedom is suggested here, when it is constrained by harness? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't thought about that potential conflict. So the harness might symbolize the constraints placed on even the most powerful entities? Curator: Precisely. Moreover, consider that this image appeared on a cigarette card. Cigarettes, fleeting and ephemeral, juxtaposed with the noble, enduring image of the horse. Do you see a tension there? A symbolic commentary perhaps on the transient nature of wealth or status? The 'parole' of momentary pleasure, versus the deeper promise, or even prison, of a social role? Editor: That is fascinating! I see now that the image contains both an appeal to prestige, and a caution regarding it's ever-lastingness. I didn't expect to be digging into this type of social context from what appeared to be such a simple drawing. Curator: Indeed. Art, even in seemingly commercial forms, can reflect deep cultural anxieties and aspirations, echoing through time. Looking closer always unearths new revelations.