Sidney Douglas Farrar, 1st Base, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This photographic print, made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company, captures Sidney Douglas Farrar, a baseball player for Philadelphia. Note how Farrar's confident stance is reminiscent of classical statues of antiquity. In ancient Greece, athletes were idealized figures, their physical prowess celebrated as a form of divine beauty. This card taps into that tradition, consciously or not, by presenting Farrar as a modern-day hero. The gesture of his hand on his hip echoes poses found in Renaissance portraiture. The image conveys not just physical strength, but also a sense of self-assurance and control. This is a fascinating cultural evolution: The athletic hero, once represented in marble, now finds his place on a cigarette card, a testament to the changing gods of our modern age. This conflation elicits a powerful connection, engaging viewers on a subconscious level by intertwining notions of athleticism, admiration, and the fleeting nature of human achievement.