John F. Roach, Pitcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Curator: Before us is "John F. Roach, Pitcher, New York," a print from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes, created by Goodwin & Company in 1887. Editor: My first thought is that it’s surprisingly evocative, considering its intended function as advertising. There’s something undeniably earnest in the player's stance, and the aged paper adds to the nostalgia. Curator: Indeed. Note the tight framing and the carefully posed figure. The subject occupies almost the entire picture plane. Consider how the composition divides neatly into thirds, focusing our eye from his cap down to his planted feet. Editor: Beyond the formal arrangement, baseball has become almost mythical in American culture. The lone pitcher, the field a symbolic battleground...it taps into very deep ideas about national identity and resilience. He becomes a type, almost archetypal. Curator: Precisely. Moreover, examine the rendering itself. The piece employs a muted palette, predominantly sepia tones. And there are no extraneous details, so it almost feels like an extracted moment from a game that's been sanded back. Editor: Absolutely, the sepia tone definitely roots it in a specific historical moment. The "Old Judge Cigarettes" banner looming above contributes to that. Cigarettes and baseball— emblems of an era’s masculine identity. Curator: Further analysis suggests a layered approach, using printing with ink and paper but also pencil sketch and watercolor washes. See how these combine to model Roach's features and highlight the folds of his uniform. Editor: What strikes me is the pre-WWI fascination with individual athletic heroes and celebrity. The tobacco companies celebrated not only their product, but figures that embodied the popular aspirations. Curator: An excellent point. In essence, it is both advertisement and an emblem of broader cultural narratives— a microcosm of societal values viewed through form, texture, and composition. Editor: Seeing the pitcher poised on this small aged card makes us consider what heroes we choose to uphold in modern times. Food for thought alongside this compelling example of printing history!