Quinn, Catcher, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is a baseball card of Quinn, the catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, produced by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tone flattens the image, emphasizing the figure against a minimal backdrop and drawing attention to the materiality of the card itself. Quinn’s stance is formal, almost iconic, yet his somewhat awkward posture undermines any sense of classical heroism. He holds the bat almost self-consciously, its diagonal line cutting across his body and creating a dynamic tension with the otherwise static composition. The blurred background pushes the subject forward, while the brand’s text is displayed underneath the figure, connecting the player's image with commodity culture. This tension between the individual and the commercial context destabilizes the traditional idea of the hero. The subdued tones and the card's small scale transform the celebrated athlete into a collectible object, prompting us to reflect on how cultural values and individual identity are constructed and circulated through mass media. The flattening of form challenges us to think about the relationships between image, representation, and value.