Stephens, St. Louis, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This picture of Stephens of St. Louis, American League, was made for the American Tobacco Company, and you can tell it has a vintage feel. The colors are flat and the image is contained within a white border—like it's been sealed in. I can imagine the artist trying to capture the energy of the player in a static form, figuring out how to make a simple image that people would remember. The colors are really striking: the bright gold background, the green below, the grey uniform, and the brown glove. The shapes are very clear and graphic. The player looks young and focused, ready to catch the ball. I wonder if the artist knew that this image would be collected and treasured? You see similar images of people all the time, but this one has a certain charm and personality that makes it stand out and gives me a feeling of nostalgia for a time that has passed.