Wilmot, Left Field, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of Wilmot, Left Field, Chicago, was created circa 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tone flattens the image, emphasizing the geometry of the player's stance and the sharp contrast between his uniform and the blurred field. The composition is structured by diagonals: the bat, the player's body, and even the implied trajectory of the ball. These lines create a sense of movement frozen in time. Consider how this formal arrangement may have served the commercial purpose of the card. The clarity of form and action would have appealed to consumers, turning a fleeting moment of athletic prowess into a collectible object. The Old Judge Cigarettes branding anchors the image, merging sport with industry. This is an example of how formalism allows us to unpack not just the aesthetic qualities of a work, but its role in broader cultural and economic systems.