Elmer Ellsworth Foster, Center Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have "Elmer Ellsworth Foster, Center Field, New York" from 1888. It’s part of the Old Judge series for Old Judge Cigarettes, a photographic print. It’s fascinating how such a mundane item like a cigarette card captures a specific moment in time. What layers do you see beneath this seemingly simple image? Curator: The baseball itself, floating above Foster’s hands, evokes a sense of possibility and potential, almost as if the very act of play is suspended in time. The surrounding idealized rural setting and pastoral environment stands in stark contrast with the developing urbanization of the United States, suggesting a yearning for a simpler, perhaps idealized past. Does it reflect the transition to industrialization, with baseball offering a familiar escape? Editor: That's a very interesting take. It really makes you think about what people valued back then. Do you see any connection between this image and its commercial context as a cigarette card? Curator: Absolutely. The "Old Judge" cigarette brand becomes intrinsically linked to this image of American athleticism. Consider this pairing - athletic prowess with an item synonymous with leisure and adulthood - as an intentional cultural maneuver: through these cards, a link is forged, creating an enduring image that still carries significance. How does it all speak to the cultural memory that such a simple card creates? Editor: I hadn't really thought about the card as a deliberate construction. Seeing this print makes me more curious about the evolution of baseball, and the ways in which commerce intersects with how we perceive American ideals of sport. Thank you! Curator: The visual symbols here serve as an anchor. Consider how they link us to the past. What will such symbols mean in the future?