James Thomas "Deacon" McGuire, Catcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Curator: This is "James Thomas 'Deacon' McGuire, Catcher, Philadelphia," a piece from the Old Judge series made for Old Judge Cigarettes back in 1887. It’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The sepia tone lends a feeling of aged heroism, like looking at a daguerreotype from a forgotten epic. The tight composition, focusing on McGuire, really draws you into the gaze of the athlete. Curator: Absolutely. The “Old Judge” series is a fascinating glimpse into how popular culture was marketed. These cards, produced using collotype, a kind of early photomechanical print, were essentially advertisements packaged with cigarettes. They captured the public’s growing fascination with baseball. Editor: And the advertisement is elegantly integrated into the visual field. The player is poised in mid-swing, with the brand hovering above him. Is that floating baseball part of the photographic process, or some trick of the period? Curator: Most likely a carefully staged addition to the photo, designed to accentuate the dynamism of the game and, of course, the brand. It taps into the zeitgeist. Athletes like McGuire became symbols of strength, skill, and the burgeoning American sporting culture. He becomes associated with the virtues a customer might look for in a product. Editor: And that's an important observation. By association, you partake of his victory when you purchase a pack of "Old Judge Cigarettes." Beyond the advertising aspect, I notice the stark contrast between the light and shadows, really defining McGuire's form and making him pop from the monochromatic background. This would have been a novel approach at the time. Curator: Exactly. These weren't just portraits; they were carefully constructed representations meant to evoke particular ideas and emotions. The slightly romanticized depiction of McGuire solidifies his symbolic role. They remind me of votive offerings or holy images—artifacts to carry a prayer and inspiration from its saint, except, this deity represents professional sportsmanship. Editor: It’s curious how consumerism often borrows the aesthetics of devotion and faith. In terms of my visual analysis, the rectangular shape and subdued coloration offer a compact but memorable design; the card anticipates an athlete's "trading card," one that has survived through various ages and migrations, and become valuable like religious relics themselves. Curator: That's insightful; even now, collecting sports memorabilia retains a fervent kind of passion. Looking back at it, it's strange to think of sports heroes being used to push cigarettes! Editor: Strange, and a reminder of the changing cultural associations around certain figures and their respective vices and virtues! Curator: A fitting coda for considering our culture through imagery.