Plank, Philadelphia, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card, "Plank, Philadelphia, American League," was made for the American Tobacco Company, part of their White Border series. The colors feel almost faded, like looking at a distant memory. What I love about this card is its texture, the way the ink subtly rests on the surface, giving the image this aged, almost dreamlike quality. Look closely at the way the blue background almost vibrates against the crisp white border. The details, especially in the player's face, are softened, which speaks to the printing process, and makes me think about how images from this era have this inherent, built-in layer of mediation. It reminds me a little bit of Alex Katz and his interest in American portraiture, especially in the flattening of the image, and how this affects our gaze. Like Katz, the American Tobacco Company embraced the inherent ambiguity of their material, reminding us that art isn't about capturing reality, but about opening up a conversation.