Boyle, Manager of the Cricketers, from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1888

This is a portrait of Boyle, the manager of a cricket team. It was produced by Goodwin & Company, a cigarette manufacturer in New York, sometime around the late 19th century. The image is a photograph, printed on card stock, a classic example of mass-produced ephemera. These cards were basically advertisements, inserted in cigarette packs to stiffen them, and also to promote Old Judge brand. They were collected and traded, like baseball cards today. Consider the labor involved: the growing of tobacco, the manufacturing of cigarettes, the photography, printing, and distribution of these cards. It all adds up to a complex web of industrial production and consumption. While not typically considered "high art," these cards offer insight into the culture of their time, and the ways in which art and commerce were intertwined. It’s a reminder that everyday objects can be just as revealing as those in gilded frames.