Anthony John "Tony" Mullane, Pitcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This portrait, part of the Old Judge series dating back to 1888, presents Anthony John "Tony" Mullane, a pitcher for Cincinnati, captured through collotype print by Goodwin & Company. Editor: It has this wonderfully sepia-toned quality, like a lost memory. The athlete holds his bat with what I sense to be intense concentration—but it's juxtaposed with the commercial intention visible at the bottom third which clearly labels the “Old Judge Cigarette Factory." Curator: Precisely, the visual field is carefully arranged. Note the pose, almost stage-like against the nondescript background. There’s a flattening of depth that emphasizes Mullane’s silhouette and contributes to its graphic quality. The composition leads us to consider how heroism is manufactured, visualized for consumption. Editor: Indeed. Consider how these were produced on a mass scale for cigarette packaging, embedding a celebrity, like Mullane, into the very fabric of everyday life, labor, and consumption. It seems like baseball players were commodities as well as admired heroes. The name of the factory is as prominent as the ball player, if not more. Curator: Semiotically, Mullane becomes a signifier, not only of athletic prowess but also, subtly, of the "Old Judge" brand. Observe how his gaze, though direct, remains somewhat vacant, turning him into a vehicle for projecting desires and aspirations tied to sport and status, commodified through printing. Editor: These portraits tell an essential story about industrializing leisure culture, connecting sporting heroes with an exploitative manufacturing chain, and highlighting printmaking’s impact as an efficient propaganda arm of commerce. In many ways this card speaks volumes on our consumption habits! Curator: A pertinent observation indeed. By decoding such seemingly simple portraits, we unlock critical perspectives on art's multifaceted function within our evolving consumer-based world. Editor: Well, next time you see a baseball card, remember what's at play regarding manufacturing and who benefits in these exchanges!