Shindle, 3rd Base, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a print called "Shindle, 3rd Base, Baltimore Orioles" from the Old Judge series, made by Goodwin & Company in 1888. It's actually an advertisement for Old Judge Cigarettes, featuring a baseball player. The sepia tones give it a real vintage feel. I'm curious about how photography fits into the art world at this time. What do you see in this piece from a formalist point of view? Curator: What I observe immediately is the compositional strategy. The subject, Mr. Shindle, is rigidly centered, isn't he? His verticality is reinforced by the bat, bisecting the composition. Note the subtle tonal gradations achieved through the photographic process; the almost monochromatic palette contributes to the work's visual unity. How does the artist utilize depth of field? Editor: I see what you mean. The background is really soft and blurred, which makes Shindle pop. He is in sharp focus, while the space around him dissolves. I had not considered it much, but can the text also contribute in the formal aspects of the artwork? Curator: Indeed. Consider the typography – the deliberate arrangement of the text, the hierarchy established through varying font sizes. The contrast of these rigidly geometric letterforms with the softer photographic image creates a visual tension. Ask yourself, why were such stark shapes applied as the baseball player fades further and further in focus in the background? Editor: It’s fascinating to think about all the formal elements working together like that, almost battling each other in form. Curator: Exactly! And by focusing on these elements, we can start to understand the artist's intentions and the effects they are trying to achieve. This helps one learn what an artwork is all about.