James Henry O'Rourke, 3rd Base, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is James Henry O'Rourke, a portrait from 1888, part of the Old Judge series. He looks… stoic. Almost a little grim for a baseball card. I’m curious, how do you interpret this work, considering the time it was made? Curator: What I see is a very specific representation of masculinity being carefully constructed in the late 19th century. Think about it – this card wasn’t just about baseball, it was also advertising cigarettes. What message does linking athleticism with a product like tobacco send about ideal manhood and consumer culture at that moment? And who was this message really for, considering societal hierarchies? Editor: That's interesting. So, it’s less about O'Rourke as an individual, and more about the ideals being projected? How does photography play into it? Curator: Exactly. Photography in this period, especially within commercial contexts, was very effective for disseminating and reinforcing certain archetypes. Consider the fact that women, or people of colour were markedly excluded, and if so, represented through a lens steeped in power imbalance, in minstrel shows for example. How does that affect our understanding of this idealized athlete? Editor: So, in its own way, this baseball card is a piece of propaganda, reinforcing specific cultural norms and hierarchies? I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely. It’s a powerful reminder that art, even something as seemingly simple as a baseball card, is never truly neutral. Editor: This has given me a lot to consider. I now see it's connected to deeper conversations about the creation and perpetuation of ideals. Curator: And understanding the socio-political contexts helps us challenge those very ideals even now.