Lev Shreve, Pitcher, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is a vintage baseball card featuring Lev Shreve, a pitcher for Indianapolis, created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tones evoke a nostalgic mood, contrasting the athlete's dynamic pose with the card's static form. The composition is divided into thirds, with the top third framing Shreve's head and throwing arm, the central third capturing the player's torso, and the bottom third displaying text. The text is a semiotic system of signs that informs the card's function as both advertisement and collectible. Shreve’s figure is defined by a series of lines – the contours of his uniform and the implied line of his throwing arm. His gaze is direct and piercing, conveying an aura of confidence and precision. Consider how the card itself participates in a larger cultural discourse surrounding celebrity, sport, and commerce. As such, it challenges traditional categories of art by existing simultaneously as commercial product, collectible item, and historical artifact.