Gleason, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a photographic print of Gleason, a pitcher for Philadelphia, created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It’s part of a series called "Old Judge Cigarettes." The image is a sepia-toned albumen print, a process that was popular in the late 19th century. The technique involves coating paper with albumen from egg whites, then applying a light-sensitive silver solution. The resulting print has a distinctive warm tone and smooth surface. What I find interesting is how this material process intersects with the social context of the time: these cards were essentially advertisements, included in cigarette packs to promote the brand and, of course, to encourage consumption. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers who captured the images, to the factory workers who produced the cards en masse, and then the farm workers who grew the tobacco. Each card represents a node in a vast network of production, tied to the rise of both photography and consumer culture. It urges us to consider the broader systems at play, and challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and commerce.