Arthur "Art" Wilson Whitney, 3rd Base, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is an albumen silver print of Arthur "Art" Wilson Whitney, 3rd Base, New York, from the Old Judge series for Old Judge Cigarettes, made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company. The sepia tone and the composition lend a sense of nostalgia. Whitney is captured in a moment of repose, yet the diagonal thrust of the bat creates a dynamic tension. Consider the semiotics at play: the baseball bat, the uniform, and the very format of the card signal themes of athleticism, professionalism, and consumption. This conflation mirrors a broader cultural phenomenon where sports figures became commodities, their images circulated and consumed much like the cigarettes they advertised. The card itself becomes a signifier, pregnant with meanings that transcend mere portraiture. In essence, this small card encapsulates the burgeoning commercialization of sports and the evolving relationship between image, identity, and consumer culture.