William Muldoon, Wrestler, from World's Champions, Series 1 (N28) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

Curator: Here we have a fascinating piece of ephemera: "William Muldoon, Wrestler" from the "World's Champions" series, dating to 1887. Allen & Ginter, the cigarette manufacturers, produced this using colored pencils and printmaking techniques. What's your initial take on this vintage depiction? Editor: Well, my first impression is… understated power. The man is obviously built like a tank, but there’s this soft, almost blushing quality to the coloration. It's quite endearing, like a teddy bear that could also bench-press a car. Curator: I think you're onto something. Cigarette cards like this, at first glance, were mere marketing ploys. But they also functioned as powerful transmitters of cultural values. Depicting athletes like Muldoon valorized physical prowess, connecting it to ideals of masculinity and national pride. Note the pink sash... Quite unexpected. Editor: Yes! The sash! It throws the whole “hyper-masculine” thing off-kilter, doesn’t it? It feels almost… theatrical, a little tongue-in-cheek. It winks at the spectacle of wrestling, perhaps. Or maybe speaks to the hidden vanities of a strong man. Curator: Perhaps both! And it's crucial to consider the symbolic weight of wrestlers throughout history. From ancient gladiators to modern performers, they've embodied strength, sacrifice, and sometimes, societal anxieties about control and aggression. Think of the role wrestling plays in working-class narratives in this period. Editor: It makes you wonder about Muldoon himself. Was he aware of this loaded symbolism? Did he embrace the image of a strongman, or was it imposed upon him? The portrait hints at a stoicism—eyes averted, arms crossed—as if he's contemplating some deeper struggle beneath the surface. I can project all kinds of personal stories onto him! Curator: Precisely! And that's the power of the image, its ability to become a vessel for our own projections, fears, and fantasies. In a time where media images were carefully controlled, these cards offered a rare glimpse into the lives, or at least the curated image, of public figures. A little window into a very particular world. Editor: Absolutely, and that hint of rosy blush certainly adds a layer of intriguing, contradictory humanity. It challenges simple binaries of strength versus weakness and masculinity versus something more nuanced. Curator: Well, next time you light up— or perhaps just think about it— consider that tiny rectangle, that pocket-sized universe of cultural significance. Editor: From cigarette pack to museum wall, who knew a wrestler's portrait could pack such a punch?