Schwartwood, Right Field, Hamit, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card, a photographic print for Old Judge Cigarettes, captures a fleeting moment on the field. At its heart lies the ambiguous gesture of the standing baseball player, arm raised. Is he about to strike, or is he celebrating? Such a gesture echoes through time, from ancient depictions of victorious warriors to religious iconography of divine intervention. Think of the raised hand of a Roman emperor, a symbol of power and command, or the benevolent hand of a deity bestowing blessings. Here, in the late 19th century, this primal gesture has been secularized, democratized. The baseball field becomes a new arena for the playing out of ancient dramas of victory and defeat. The tension, the anticipation, embedded in this seemingly simple scene, engages us on a subconscious level. It speaks to our collective memories, our primal instincts. It’s a reminder that even in the modern world, the echoes of the past resonate, shaping our perceptions and emotions.