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

This chromolithograph of Theodore Bauer, Wrestler, was created by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes as part of their World's Champions series. Note the wrestler’s arms, firmly crossed. It is a stance of both defense and concealed power, echoing the pose of ancient statues of gods and heroes. Think of the stoic strength of a Roman emperor or the composed might of a Greek athlete, their arms similarly folded, embodying control and readiness. Yet, here, it also suggests a certain closed-off nature, a barrier against the world. The crossed arms reappear throughout history, from Renaissance portraits to modern-day photographs, each time carrying a weight of authority and self-possession, yet tinged with a hint of defensiveness. This gesture, passed down through art and culture, reveals our collective psyche's recurring need to project strength, even as it masks vulnerability.