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

This baseball card of Chase from New York, was made as part of a series of cards by the American Tobacco Company, and they were included in cigarette packs, which blows my mind a little. Look at the way the colours are laid down, like watercolour almost, with soft patches of grey and green behind him. There's something really lovely about the way the colours come together, it feels so innocent. You can see how the ink sits on the surface, and it's easy to imagine someone mixing the colours, brushing them lightly onto the card. The face is the most interesting part. Look at those slightly pink cheeks! The whole thing has a kind of tender quality. It reminds me a little of those Alice Neel portraits, there's a similar way of seeing the person, like they're caught in a moment of being themselves. It makes me think about what we choose to remember, and how artists try to capture that feeling.