Clarkson, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This card, featuring Clarkson the pitcher, was printed by Goodwin & Company of New York, around 1887, as part of a series inserted in packages of Old Judge Cigarettes. The card is a photograph, mounted on card stock. This technique allowed the company to mass-produce them cheaply, and the sepia tone gives it an antique look, fitting for a product like tobacco. While photography was regarded by some as an art, its use here as a promotional item firmly places it in the world of commercial ephemera. These cards were produced on a massive scale, churning out collectibles as a means to sell cigarettes. Consider the labor involved, from the tobacco fields to the darkrooms to the printing presses. It really makes you wonder about the relationship between leisure, labor, and the things we consume. It challenges our notions of fine art by pointing to the complex social and economic forces behind the creation of even the simplest image.