Duncan C. Ross, Champion All Around Athlete of the World, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 2) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

Curator: This print, created by W.S. Kimball & Co. around 1887, is titled "Duncan C. Ross, Champion All Around Athlete of the World." Editor: It’s striking how it captures the essence of celebrity culture even then. The texture almost looks like pointillism. Curator: Absolutely, and understanding that it was a collectible card inserted into tobacco products reveals much about Victorian-era consumption and advertising strategies. Consider the material; a relatively cheap print medium meant for wide distribution. Editor: So, mass-produced portraits that are used to both celebrate sporting prowess, yet they are intertwined with tobacco use. And the hypermasculine world of athletics tied to an addictive consumer product - there's a tension there that tells us about the social values of the time. Curator: Precisely. Look at the depiction of Duncan C. Ross, adorned with medals. The print functions not just as a portrait but also as an advertisement, capitalizing on his fame and endorsing a particular lifestyle. Editor: Right, he becomes a commodity, his image furthering a commercial enterprise, with that champion's mini-figure depicted just below the bust doing, what? Dumbbells? How this art intersects and exploits its historical and political reality in America! Curator: It also reveals how visual culture was used to promote specific ideals of masculinity and success in the late 19th century. It begs questions about what types of bodies are considered heroic and the mechanisms of popular adoration and its interplay within these societal standards. Editor: Yes, it is a sign of its time that captures these ideals, labor and consumerism intertwined together to shape its culture, to dictate how its male icons and ideals must live up to and participate. Curator: Investigating the method of printmaking itself could further unveil insights regarding print technologies available and their reach within popular culture. Editor: So true! Looking at the bigger picture, it shows a fascinating link between marketing, sporting stardom, and Victorian social culture at the close of that century!