Joe Lannon, Pugilist, from World's Champions, Series 1 (N28) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This lithograph presents Joe Lannon, a pugilist, from the late 19th century, as part of a series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Lannon’s pose, with arms crossed, speaks volumes. It projects a stoic defiance, echoing the classical sculptures of antiquity. This gesture transcends time; we find it in ancient depictions of rulers and gods, signifying control, authority, and an almost unyielding resolve. Consider the seated statues of pharaohs, or even depictions of Roman emperors – the crossed arms recur, each time imbued with a sense of command. But here, the context shifts. Lannon's crossed arms become a shield, a means of self-protection in a brutal profession. The gaze directed away alludes to both introspection and an awareness of danger. This pose is not just about power, but about the psychological dance between vulnerability and strength. A symbol ever-present, its significance constantly reshaped by the currents of history and the depths of our collective psyche.