John Anthony "Honest John" Boyle, Catcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have a print from 1888 titled "John Anthony 'Honest John' Boyle, Catcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes," produced by Goodwin & Company. The image has such a nostalgic, almost romantic feel to it. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Note how "Honest John’s" image, meant to promote Old Judge Cigarettes, becomes more than an advertisement. Consider the use of his name – “Honest John” – aligning the product with ideals of integrity and trustworthiness, core American values at the time. And then there's his posture; poised, ready. Doesn’t it evoke something of the classic hero ready to take on any task? Editor: So, the cigarette company wasn’t just selling tobacco, they were selling a cultural identity? Curator: Precisely. They're tapping into a visual language of heroism and linking their product to this deeply rooted archetype. Think about the cultural memory embedded here: the burgeoning popularity of baseball, the cult of celebrity athletes, and the association of smoking with sophistication and manliness. Editor: I hadn't considered that link between heroism and consumerism. Are there other examples? Curator: Countless! From wartime propaganda that uses images of valiant soldiers to sell war bonds to modern advertising using celebrity endorsements to market products. What do you think the impact of using these kinds of archetypes have on us? Editor: It makes sense why some images resonate so deeply, connecting us to something bigger. Seeing it broken down like this… it gives the photograph so much more depth.