Timothy J. Brosnan, 2nd Base, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, this is a print of Timothy J. Brosnan, a baseball player, it says "2nd Base, Minneapolis". The print comes from the Old Judge series, made in 1888. It's… interesting, a baseball card, but as art. How should we approach this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It whispers stories of a time when heroes were immortalized on tobacco cards. Think of it! Not just a game, but an entire lifestyle condensed into sepia tones and paper thin enough to fold into dreams. But, is it *art* art? The question hangs like a curveball. What hits you when you look at it? Editor: It feels very staged, very posed. Not like the action shots we see today. It feels almost… nostalgic? I think it looks posed because early cameras required people to stand perfectly still. Curator: Nostalgia indeed! Imagine the artist capturing this athlete—did he see raw athleticism, or the dawn of celebrity? Did the printing process feel sacred then, something like painting today? Tell me, is there something else catching your eye in the composition? Editor: I noticed that it has all these tiny dots and specs which creates the tones and gradients. The athlete’s image seems carefully arranged so as to fit the confines of the rectangular card format, and even the stains add an authenticity! The advertisement at the bottom provides an economic element too! Curator: Exactly! The artistry is not just in the depiction of Brosnan, but also in understanding its purpose, its circulation. A precursor to today's influencer culture, perhaps? The way Goodwin & Co. linked athleticism with… *cough*… the sophisticated leisure of cigarettes… It raises eyebrows and makes one think! The beauty is not just what’s there but what's *not* explicitly said! I never noticed all the speckles until you mentioned that. I might just consider collecting cards, or, baseball! Editor: This gave me a whole new perspective about advertisement and fine art, all in one baseball card!