Quoits, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Editor: Here we have “Quoits” from the Games and Sports series by Goodwin & Company, created in 1889. It appears to be a print made with colored pencil and gouache. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the sharply defined portrait on the right and the hazy, almost impressionistic background scene. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Primarily, I see a calculated arrangement of forms and colors. The composition is bifurcated, yet balanced. On one side, a clearly delineated female figure; on the other, an open landscape receding into the distance, populated by male figures engaged in sport. Notice how the stripes worn by both the woman and the athletes create a visual echo, a mirroring effect across the pictorial space. The question then becomes, what is the function of this mirroring? Editor: Are you suggesting that the artist intended us to draw a direct comparison between the figures? I suppose the lines draw my eyes across the image, holding my attention longer. Curator: Precisely! Furthermore, observe the analogous color schemes. The reds and blues, though varying in saturation, are strategically placed to create a cohesive visual experience. This interplay of color and form supersedes any narrative consideration. We must prioritize the artist's manipulation of visual elements to achieve a specific aesthetic effect, regardless of subject. How would you describe this aesthetic effect, and the mood? Editor: I suppose a playful one? The lines draw my eyes quickly over the images, as though following the thrower, and my gaze stops at the woman. It is visually engaging in many respects! Now that you mention the visual relationship between the woman and players, though, I am intrigued by that compositional mirroring. Curator: The key is the emphasis on these mirroring components, over historical readings. Form always precedes content. Editor: Fascinating. Thank you for showing me this perspective, focusing on lines, color, and formal relationships has expanded my way of thinking about art! Curator: It has been enlightening to delve into this artwork's pure visual language together.