Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols, Pitcher, Omaha Omahogs/ Lambs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols, Pitcher, Omaha Omahogs/Lambs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes, created by Goodwin & Company. The sepia tones give a soft, almost dreamlike quality, yet the composition is strikingly geometric. Notice how the vertical lines of Nichols' striped jersey are echoed in the bat he holds, creating a visual rhythm that leads the eye upwards. The sharp contrast between the dark stripes and the light background emphasizes the structure of his uniform. What does this signify? Perhaps a commentary on early commercialism, where a baseball player becomes an abstract arrangement of lines and forms, a figure reduced to a set of visual codes. The very act of framing Nichols in this way transforms him into a commodity, hinting at the commodification of sports and celebrity culture. The formal elements aren't just aesthetic choices, but part of a larger cultural discourse about representation and value.