William Beach, Champion Oarsman of the World, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 1) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

This trade card from W.S. Kimball & Co. presents William Beach, a celebrated oarsman. Note the prominence of the oar, its diagonal thrust cutting across the scene. The oar, a tool of navigation and propulsion, has a lineage stretching back to antiquity. Think of the Egyptian funerary boats, symbols of passage to the afterlife, propelled by rhythmic oar strokes. Or consider the Viking longboats, their oars driving them across tempestuous seas, carrying warriors and their sagas. Here, the oar signifies not only physical prowess but also ambition and relentless forward motion. This simple tool becomes a potent symbol, echoing humanity's eternal striving and our connection to the waters that both sustain and challenge us. Its presence evokes ancestral memories, a primal drive to conquer and explore. The humble oar, therefore, transcends its utilitarian function to stir within us something profoundly human.