Duncan C. Ross, Broad Swordsman, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This is Duncan C. Ross, Broad Swordsman, a chromolithograph card produced by Goodwin & Company as part of a series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. These cards, distributed in cigarette packs, reflect the late 19th-century’s obsession with collecting and categorizing. As a promotional item it speaks to the burgeoning consumer culture of the Gilded Age. What does it mean to turn people, in this case athletes, into commodities? Here, Duncan C. Ross is depicted with a romantic flair. His physique and crossed arms evoke a sense of masculine power. His pose with swords recalls images of ancient gladiators. In this context, think about the idea of performance – the spectacle of athleticism, the construction of identity, and the packaging of it all for mass consumption. What narratives are being reinforced, and what possibilities are being ignored?