Powers, Philadelphia, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card of Powers, from the Philadelphia American League, was made by the American Tobacco Company. It's part of the White Border series. I imagine the designer, in creating this image, thinking through how to use the lithographic process to conjure a portrait from flat color. The figure emerges from a pastel wash of light blues and greens in the background, while the cage of the mask over his face, rendered in thin dark lines, hints at some unseen threat. There’s such care taken in describing the uniform, the light falling on its surface. Does the texture feel smooth to you? To me, this little card feels like something you would keep in your pocket to bring you luck! These images are so interesting because they're of a moment. I wonder what Powers thought of it? Like all artists, the American Tobacco Company was in conversation with others, trading ideas across time.