Joe Thompson, "The Leviathan", from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1888

This is an advertising card of Joe Thompson, "The Leviathan", made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. The name given to this fighter, "Leviathan," echoes through history, conjuring ancient symbols of monstrous power. The Leviathan is a creature that appears in various forms across cultures, often symbolizing chaos and the untamed forces of nature. In the Old Testament, the Leviathan is a sea monster, a symbol of primordial chaos subdued by God. This reflects a deep-seated human fascination with the overwhelming power of nature. The emotional resonance of the Leviathan figure—its sheer size and destructive potential—taps into a collective fear and awe. The image of a Leviathan, a monstrous sea creature, is not merely a description of a beast but a reflection of our own internal struggles with the unknown. In the end, the Leviathan, whether a biblical sea monster or a boxing champion, embodies the enduring human struggle to understand and confront forces that seem beyond our control. It is a symbol that resurfaces time and again, each time taking on new layers of meaning, shaped by the fears and aspirations of the age.