Hughes, Pitcher, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Editor: This is an albumen print from 1889 by Goodwin & Company. It's titled "Hughes, Pitcher, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes." It has a sepia tone and depicts a baseball player, posed mid-throw. The player's image is surprisingly crisp and well-composed. How would you interpret the significance of the visual elements in this print? Curator: Formally, one observes a strategic interplay of light and shadow, defining the figure's form and directing the gaze. Note how the subtle tonal variations articulate the textures of the uniform and ground the subject within a tangible, albeit indistinct, space. This precise construction reinforces a specific reading. Is there something else about the figure that informs this structured approach? Editor: The way he’s captured in motion? It’s frozen action, making it different than other photographs from the time. How does his motion shape our view? Curator: Precisely. The stasis imbues the image with a potent stillness. In isolating this athletic form, the print invites scrutiny of line, shape, and surface. One might note, for example, the acute angle of the arm mirrored in the stance. Or, consider how the light models the three-dimensionality of the ball. This photograph presents itself as both object and referent. What more can we infer? Editor: That it has this really striking symmetry that I didn't notice before, thanks for pointing that out! Curator: A valuable observation, it’s a very productive assessment for that formalist lens.