Doyle, New York, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card, made by the American Tobacco Company, captures a moment in time with a simple, direct style. It’s a snapshot, really, the kind where the artist dives right into the process, letting the colours and the subject speak for themselves. The texture is smooth, the colours are muted, giving it a nostalgic feel. Look at the way the blue background is speckled, almost like it’s been aged by the sun. It makes you wonder about the hands that made it, the tools they used. The word 'New York' across Doyle's chest is blocky, bold and assertive, the city made flesh. The way the artist chose to depict this moment, not just as a picture but as a piece of history, reminds me of artists like Fairfield Porter, who found beauty in the everyday. This card invites us to see the layers of history and imagination that infuse even the simplest images. Art, at its best, is an ongoing conversation, always open to new voices and interpretations.