Georgie Barrymore, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Goodwin & Company crafted this portrait of Georgie Barrymore for Old Judge Cigarettes using a sepia print. The composition is dominated by a play of light and shadow, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Vertically, the chair and Barrymore’s dress create strong lines, offset by the gentle curve of her hat. Consider the semiotics at play here. The image, designed for a cigarette card, uses the visual language of celebrity and aspiration. Barrymore, an actress, is depicted in an elegant pose, her attire and setting suggesting wealth and sophistication. However, this image exists as part of a larger network of signs – the brand, the series, the historical context of celebrity culture. The print questions fixed meanings. It reflects a cultural moment where fame was becoming a commodity, and images of celebrities were circulated as tokens of desire and identification. The image challenges our understanding of representation and the relationship between image, identity, and consumer culture.