J.C. Cockburn, Champion Wing Shot of Canada, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 1) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

Curator: We are looking at a rather curious print from 1887, produced by W.S. Kimball & Co. as part of their Champions of Games and Sports series. This particular one features J.C. Cockburn, proudly titled "Champion Wing Shot of Canada". Editor: Oh, it's one of those cigarette cards! I love finding these—there's a certain whimsy, even a campiness, to how they depict these athletic figures. It’s small but packs so much personality. Curator: Precisely. Kimball used these as marketing tools. Sport figures and celebrities endorsed their brand to give credibility. Editor: Endorsements and trading cards, now I feel like I am heading into commercialized territory… And the rosy cheeks on this "Champion Wing Shot," slightly cartoonish rendering, and the birds in frantic flight... a touch heavy-handed, no? Curator: You may say that. It's interesting to consider these prints within the context of 19th-century popular culture and burgeoning sports culture. The depiction of marksmanship speaks volumes about societal values, maybe. The notion of human dominance over nature through sport, and these small cards allowed anyone to partake in it. Editor: I get that, a celebration of masculine prowess! And packaged with, uh, cancer sticks. Ah, irony! It’s compelling on its face because the idea of sport can encompass any type of game that allows participants to prove a superior edge. Curator: The print certainly romanticizes the activity, presenting it as a display of skill and mastery. Note the compositional device of having a miniature vignette of the sporting activity below the man's portrait! The commercial aspect is integral. Kimball was selling an idea as much as tobacco. Editor: So, it’s like a miniature, slightly warped mirror reflecting the aspirations—and perhaps the anxieties—of the time. Makes you wonder about the "champions" we idolize today. Are we equally blind to the absurdities? Curator: Food for thought! Ultimately, it speaks to art’s intricate connection with advertising and the making of cultural icons. It reminds us that these seemingly trivial objects carry a weight of historical context. Editor: And to think, this champion's legacy partly lives on because it encouraged folks to buy more smokes. Now that is… unsettling. Thanks for that insight, it helps make something humorous take on a much bigger relevance.