Ron Walker 1975

Mike Mandel made this black and white photograph of Ron Walker as part of a series exploring the conventions of portraiture. Mandel, active in California from the late 1960s, was interested in how institutions like sports and media shape our perception of individuals. Here, Walker is presented in the style of a baseball card. These cards, common in America at the time, served as both collectible items and promotional tools. The visual codes are clear: the baseball cap with the 'P' logo for the Philadelphia Phillies, the determined expression, and the gloved hand poised for action. But this is no slick, airbrushed image. The grainy texture and informal pose suggest a more personal, less mediated view. Mandel's work often critiques the way images are used to construct celebrity and reinforce social norms. What happens when we apply the visual language of commercial culture to ordinary people? By examining the circulation and function of images, we can better understand their power to shape our understanding of the world.