Groepsportret van het atletiekteam van Yale University te New Haven 1895

This is an undated photograph of the Yale University track and field team, its maker now unknown. The team is posing with their trophy, all in the same uniform. The image presents a visual manifestation of the university’s sporting culture. Elite universities in the US like Yale have historically played a key role in cultivating a sense of national identity and social capital, particularly among privileged white men. Athletics became closely tied to these processes. Group portraits like this one served not only as records, but also as powerful symbols of institutional pride and social cohesion. The ‘gentleman athlete’ was conceived of as the ideal, embodying values of leadership and sportsmanship. To understand the social dynamics captured in this image, scholars might consult university archives, student publications, and period literature. These resources can reveal the social expectations and power structures that underpinned the sporting culture at Yale. In this way, the photograph prompts us to reflect on the social functions of art, and its meanings.