Knight, New York, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card of Knight, from the American League in New York, was created for the American Tobacco Company. Imagine sitting down with a stack of these, and trying to get the colors just right, the blue background and the white uniform with “New York” emblazoned across the chest. It’s not quite photorealism, it’s something else, something a little dreamy and iconic. You’re trying to get a likeness, but also capture the spirit of the game. These cards are like little paintings, each one a small act of devotion to the sport. You can imagine the artists talking shop, exchanging tips on how to get the perfect shade of blue, or how to capture the intensity of a player's gaze. They’re in conversation with each other, building on each other's ideas and techniques. And that’s what art is all about, right? A continuous dialogue across time, where each artist learns from and inspires the next, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible.