Infighting, Walter De Baum and Walter Campbell, from the Boxing Positions and Boxers series (N266) issued by P. Lorillard Company to promote Red Cross Long Cut Tobacco 1893

Editor: Here we have "Infighting, Walter De Baum and Walter Campbell," from 1893, a print created by P. Lorillard Company, using colored pencils and drawing. It’s incredibly raw, almost like a snapshot of two boxers in the heat of a fight. Very immediate, wouldn't you say? What do you make of it? Curator: Immediate indeed, like catching a secret glimpse. I find it so curious, this merging of sport, art, and… well, commerce. The boxing scene, presented as an ad for tobacco, smacks of turn-of-the-century virility, doesn’t it? A bit crass, but visually, quite engaging. And these almost delicate color pencils trying to catch all this raw force… The juxtaposition intrigues me endlessly. What’s your read on the color usage? Editor: I was struck by the limited palette and the, dare I say, slightly awkward anatomy? Is it intentionally naive or a stylistic choice? Curator: A little of both, I fancy! Accuracy wasn’t the point, was it? This feels like a stylized drama, where bold gestures matter more than details. This reminds us to look at art for how it affects our heart and gut feelings, and what meanings, narratives, feelings, thoughts, or questions can be ignited in our soul… It can also give some food for thought that ads and art don't necessarily live on different planets, after all. Editor: So it's more about capturing the energy of the match than creating a precise representation. Fascinating! It makes me reconsider the purpose of commercial art entirely. Curator: Precisely! It invites us to question what we consider 'high' art, blurring those boundaries. Makes you wonder what other hidden narratives might be lurking in seemingly mundane objects, right? I might just start collecting vintage ads myself!