Bastian, 2nd Base, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: Here we have an intriguing gelatin silver print from 1888, "Bastian, 2nd Base, Philadelphia," part of the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series by Goodwin & Company. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My initial impression is one of a staged tableau. It feels very constructed. The sepia tones give it a lovely nostalgic quality, but the composition itself feels somewhat… artificial. Curator: Absolutely. These cards were mass-produced inserts for cigarette packs, designed to promote both baseball and the Goodwin company. What looks staged to our eyes was likely carefully arranged to present a specific image of athleticism and American culture. Editor: It's interesting to consider the labor involved. Someone had to set up this scene, pose the athlete, take the photo, and then produce potentially thousands of these prints. We see only the finished, collectible object, yet it carries the traces of that unseen production line. Curator: Indeed. And thinking about its public role, baseball in the late 19th century was rapidly becoming the "national pastime." Circulating images like this through everyday consumer goods helped solidify the sport's cultural significance and projected certain values about masculinity and leisure. Editor: How do you see this mass production of athlete portraits affecting notions of craftsmanship and artistic labor at the time? This seems more aligned with manufacturing processes. Curator: It certainly blurs those boundaries. Photography itself was still grappling with its place within the arts. Reproducing these images on a large scale cheapened its value for one part of society, but increased distribution gave accessibility to the image in ways a painting could not. Editor: Exactly. We have a material culture that directly links athletic prowess to a product for consumption. It frames baseball, a game rooted in physical skill, as a product to be bought and sold—much like these images themselves. The texture is incredible for the piece, so rich in detail and beautifully preserved. Curator: That's an excellent point, reflecting how imagery shapes cultural narratives. Looking at it through a contemporary lens provides us insight on the beginnings of modern consumerism and how popular culture can influence a nation. Editor: I agree. The image is as much about constructing an American identity as it is about capturing a baseball player in a sepia moment. Curator: Very well said. Thank you for helping give us a little extra insight on this wonderful piece.