Whitney, Pitcher, Washington, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a photographic print, made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It features a baseball pitcher named Whitney, from Washington. More than just a portrait, it's an early example of commercial art, designed to promote a product. The series falls within the 19th-century phenomenon of cigarette cards, which companies inserted in packets as collectibles. The cards often featured actors, sports figures, and other celebrities of the day. Think of it as an early form of advertising. The image, therefore, exists at the intersection of sport, celebrity culture, and the tobacco industry, each of which had its own complex social dynamic. Understanding an image like this requires looking beyond its surface. For art historians, this involves delving into archives, studying the history of advertising, and examining the cultural context in which it was produced and consumed. The meaning of art is not fixed but rather emerges from its place within a specific time and social framework.