James Wear "Bug" Holliday, Center Field, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is "James Wear "Bug" Holliday, Center Field, Cincinnati" from the Old Judge series, a photographic print made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company. The sepia tone flattens the image into a study of tonal gradients, its focus on form and structure heightened by the limited palette. Holliday is depicted in his baseball uniform, the laces of his shirt and the band around his waist creating geometric patterns against the soft focus background. The composition is simple, yet deliberate, positioning Holliday as a figure within a carefully structured space. This interplay of figure and ground raises questions about representation and identity. The photograph flattens the depth of field, reducing Holliday to a set of forms. Consider how Goodwin & Company used the then relatively new medium of photography to create this image. It's not just a portrait, but an exploration into how a figure can be reduced to constituent parts and still convey meaning. The image invites us to consider the visual systems at play and how they communicate ideas about sport, identity, and representation in late 19th century America.