Jones, St. Louis, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card featuring Jones of St. Louis, was printed by the American Tobacco Company in a bygone era. The slightly mottled effect, like a very pale pointillism, is pretty captivating. The color palette is very muted and subtle, not realistic at all, and yet the overall effect is charming and very evocative. It's fascinating to examine the material aspects of this piece. The texture looks smooth, almost velvety, and the colors are softly blended, creating a sense of nostalgia. You can almost feel the paper beneath your fingertips, and imagine the hands that carefully crafted this tiny portrait. Look closely at the way Jones's eyes are rendered. The artist has used the bare minimum of marks, but it completely evokes a sense of determination. It's an amazing little detail that adds so much to the overall impression. This card reminds me of the work of Joseph Cornell, another artist who found beauty and meaning in everyday objects. Like Cornell, the American Tobacco Company elevated the mundane to the level of art. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.