A Good Throw, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company 1888

This small chromolithograph, dating from around 1870-1920 and created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents a peculiar juxtaposition of leisure activities. A baseball player mid-throw occupies the left side, while the right teems with caricatured figures engaged in gambling and drinking. The composition is split, yet the eye is drawn to the dice on the table, a focal point where sport meets chance. The artist uses contrasting color palettes to differentiate the two scenes. Cool blues and greens suggest the open field, while warm browns and reds evoke the dimly lit interior of the bar. This contrast establishes a tension between the wholesome activity of sport and the potentially corrupting influence of gambling. The exaggeration of features in the gamblers destabilizes conventional portraiture, suggesting a critique of excess. The inclusion of baseball bats as a backdrop introduces a formal element, framing the scene and reminding us of the cultural context of leisure in America at the turn of the century. This card, beyond its advertising function, cleverly uses form and composition to explore the cultural values of its time.