Bushong, Catcher, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have "Bushong, Catcher, Brooklyn" from the Old Judge series, printed in 1888. It's a photograph, more specifically a lithograph of a photograph, used as a baseball card to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. It has a sepia tone, giving it such a nostalgic feeling. The athlete's posture looks a bit awkward. What elements of this artwork do you find most striking? Curator: Let's consider the lithograph's composition. The figure is centrally placed, creating a balanced, albeit static, image. The subject's averted gaze avoids direct engagement with the viewer. We could examine the figure-ground relationship as well: How does the relatively undefined background contribute to the perception of depth or, conversely, flatten the image? Note also the cropping, its influence on how we interpret the subject's stance. Editor: It almost feels like the picture plane is compressed. Like everything is in one spot, rather than layers behind each other. I wonder if the limitations of the photography contribute to that? Curator: That's a very interesting observation. Think about the tonal range, which is rather limited, mostly mid-tones and the stark typography printed at the bottom of the card; how does this affect your perception of the textures and surfaces within the image? Editor: I guess it flattens those elements as well, by reducing details. So everything visually contributes to the flattening of the image as a whole. I learned so much from looking closely at those formal qualities. Curator: Indeed, by analyzing those elements of composition, texture and typography, we get a much better appreciation of the aesthetic qualities and overall presentation of the piece.