Jack Dempsey, Pugilist, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph of Jack Dempsey, the pugilist, made by Goodwin & Company, presents a formal arrangement of color and shape. Dempsey is centered, but his slightly asymmetrical pose suggests action and readiness. His form is built from basic shapes, softening the hard lines of his figure. The use of color also creates meaning. Dempsey's pink top and grey trousers contrast with the green backdrop and the red of the boxing ring. These choices highlight him against a flat background. This is a piece of commercial art so the use of color likely has some symbolic meaning to appeal to the viewer. The text at the bottom anchors the image to a specific product, the "Old Judge & Gypsy Queen Cigarettes" suggesting that the image is both a portrait of an athlete and an advertisement. This duality challenges the traditional understanding of portraiture and the changing role of art in commercial culture. The card presents not just an image of a boxer but also a signifier of broader social values and consumer aspirations.