Swimming, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Editor: Here we have "Swimming" from the Games and Sports series, created by Goodwin & Company in 1889. It looks like a watercolor print advertising Old Judge Cigarettes. What strikes me is the somewhat disjointed composition. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: Focusing on its intrinsic qualities, observe the dichotomy established by the portrait juxtaposed against the active scene. The portrait utilizes precise lines, whereas the scene dissolves into the suggestive fluidity afforded by watercolor. Note the analogous color scheme with the restricted palette creates a visual harmony. Editor: The flattened perspective and limited color palette certainly create a unique visual tension. Are you suggesting the juxtaposition serves a specific artistic purpose within the structure? Curator: Indeed. Semiotically, consider the function of portrait versus action. The portrait anchors the viewer while the active scene suggests movement, a transition. Structurally, how does the interplay between foreground and background enhance the viewer’s comprehension of depth and perspective? Does the haziness aid depth perception? Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t considered how the formal elements were creating a visual language of their own. I was too busy thinking about what swimming must have been like back then. Curator: Sometimes the simplest observation leads us to understand better the nuances of its composition, and it allows the elements to coalesce to shape its particular aesthetic experience. Editor: I can see that. I learned to examine beyond subject matter, recognizing formal components can enhance or alter our perceptions. Thank you!