John Francis Coleman, Right Field, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Curator: This is a gelatin silver print titled "John Francis Coleman, Right Field, Pittsburgh," dating back to 1887. It's part of the Old Judge series of baseball cards distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. Editor: It has a charming, faded quality, almost dreamlike. I'm struck by the textures; you can almost feel the weave of the fabric in his uniform and the smooth wood of the bat. Curator: These cards served as both advertising and collectibles. Consider the social impact: baseball's rising popularity, tobacco marketing, and how photographic images entered mass culture. Editor: Exactly! The materiality is fascinating. It's a commodity promoting another commodity. You've got the physical card, the process of photography, the wood of the bat, and Coleman's labour as a baseball player, all tied together by the consumption habits of the time. How interesting this card and brand could create this early portrait photography! Curator: The players became early celebrities, their images circulated widely. The Old Judge series, in particular, contributed to baseball's national identity and cultural mythology. There's something about his confident pose that really reinforces his public role and baseball persona. Editor: Right, and it challenges this idea of art being somehow separate from commercial or functional objects. The care taken in this process reflects respect for craft—creating durable goods for baseball and celebrity worship and promotion. And that in turns speaks volumes about shifting ideas and public roles! Curator: These cards created a visual history. Through these commercial artifacts, a legacy was built solidifying baseball as a national symbol in American society. It's a fascinating window into late 19th-century America. Editor: I agree. Considering these prints through labor, access and skill highlights the cultural construction through physical elements within it. Thanks!