Childs, 2nd Base, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So this is "Childs, 2nd Base, Philadelphia" from the series "Old Judge Cigarettes," made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It’s an albumen print, which gives it a sort of warm, sepia tone. It seems like it was part of a larger advertising campaign. What stands out to you about this photograph? Curator: The overt commercial nature of this photograph is precisely where its interest lies. These baseball cards were included in cigarette packs, directly linking leisure activities like baseball with the consumption of tobacco. What kind of labor went into producing this photograph, and the thousands of prints that would have been required for such distribution? And what social narratives were being constructed through the distribution of these images with Old Judge Cigarettes? The baseball player becomes a commodity. Editor: I never thought about the labor behind the printing itself. Was this kind of mass-produced photography considered art at the time? Curator: That’s precisely the question, isn't it? This card blurs the lines. On one hand, it's mass-produced, intended as advertising. On the other hand, the albumen print process involved skill and artistry. Pictorialism was in vogue, so photography aimed for artistic effects similar to painting, seen in the soft focus backdrop here. It's mass culture masquerading, perhaps unintentionally, as art, or perhaps expanding the very definition of art. Think about the intended use. Once removed from its pack of cigarettes, it then may have circulated amongst kids trading cards for fun! It is interesting how items are made and ultimately consumed, both literally and figuratively. Editor: That’s a great point! It’s a document of baseball, an advertisement, and, arguably, a work of art all at once. I definitely have a different appreciation for these baseball cards now! Curator: And perhaps understanding the circulation of material culture opens doors to analyzing visual art!