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

This is a baseball card of Elmer Ellsworth Foster, Center Field for New York, created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tone and small scale immediately evoke a sense of nostalgia. Foster is captured in a posed stance, bat in hand. The backdrop is indistinct, almost like a theatrical setting. The composition divides the space into distinct horizontal zones. The formal arrangement directs our attention to the figure. Note how the photograph flattens the depth of field. This emphasizes the surface quality of the print, and the texture of the cardboard, reminding us of its physical presence. The text at the bottom, 'Old Judge Cigarette Factory,' frames Foster as a commodity, revealing how advertising infused culture with capitalist ideologies. This piece functions not merely as a portrait, but as a cultural artifact embedding the image of the baseball player within a network of commerce and representation. It challenges us to consider how value and identity are constructed within the frame.