John Joseph "Handsome Jack" Carney, 1st Base, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This photographic print of John Joseph "Handsome Jack" Carney was created in the late 1880s by Goodwin & Company, the makers of Old Judge Cigarettes. Unlike a fine art photograph intended for the wall, this object was a commercial product, destined to be tucked inside a pack of smokes. Consider the card's materiality. It's a thin piece of paper, manufactured in bulk and printed with an image that, while capturing a specific player, also promotes a lifestyle. The sepia tone lends a nostalgic feel, even though the image would have been contemporary at the time of production. The photograph, while seemingly straightforward, is a carefully constructed image designed to appeal to consumers. The card represents the intersection of sports, celebrity culture, and the burgeoning consumer economy of the late 19th century. It shows us how photography was used in everyday life, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and popular culture.