Ed Morris, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This sepia-toned promotional card, created by Goodwin & Company in 1888, features Ed Morris, a pitcher for Pittsburgh. The composition is dominated by Morris’s figure, angled across the frame, his form creating a dynamic diagonal line against a hazy backdrop. Notice the interplay of light and shadow. Morris’s light shirt contrasts with his dark trousers, drawing our eye to the gesture of his throwing arm. The image, however, destabilizes the traditional portrait. Morris is not presented as an individual but as a signifier of athleticism and modernity, framed within a commercial context. The "Old Judge Cigarettes" branding anchors the image within the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. This piece thus functions not merely as a portrait but as a cultural artifact, reflecting how identities were being constructed and commodified through the lens of industrial capitalism. The formal qualities of the photograph – its composition, tonal range, and graphic elements – all serve to communicate a specific message about both the individual and the product being advertised.