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

This small chromolithograph was made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge and Dogs Head Cigarettes. It's part of a series that imagines women in various occupations, here as a General. This image operates within the social context of the late 19th century when gender roles were rigidly defined and opportunities for women were limited. The card presents a woman in a traditionally male role, but the somewhat theatrical and sexualized depiction—the revealing uniform, the decorative flourishes—undermines any sense of genuine empowerment. It's less a statement about women's capabilities and more of a playful, even titillating, fantasy for a male consumer. To truly understand this image, we need to look at the broader cultural landscape of the time: advertisements, popular entertainment, and social debates about gender and work. Only then can we grasp the complex ways in which this seemingly simple image reflects and reinforces the social norms of its time.