Chilton Scott Stratton, Pitcher, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a photographic print of Chilton Scott Stratton, a pitcher for the Louisville Colonels, made by Goodwin & Company. Here, we see Stratton in the midst of his pitch, hand outstretched, ball seemingly levitating before it's hurled. This gesture—the open hand, extended towards the viewer— echoes through art history, appearing in countless images of religious figures, ancient leaders and deities bestowing blessings or rendering judgement. Think of the hand gestures of Roman emperors on coins, each motion loaded with significance, or the hand of God reaching down in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. Why does this gesture carry such weight? Perhaps it taps into a deep-seated, collective memory, evoking feelings of authority and power. In Stratton's case, his focused expression and outstretched hand transforms the simple act of pitching into a potent symbol, loaded with anticipation and psychological intensity. The image thus becomes an echo chamber, resonating with gestures from across time and culture, demonstrating the powerful, non-linear progression of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts.