Duncan C. Ross, All Around Athlete, from World's Champions, Series 2 (N29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is “Duncan C. Ross, All Around Athlete,” a print made in 1888 by Allen & Ginter as part of their World’s Champions series. It’s a portrait, really, but the bare torso and the emphasis on those… biceps!… feels more like a celebration of physical prowess. What jumps out at you? Curator: The romance of it all! This isn’t just a picture, darling; it's a peek into the 19th-century's obsession with athleticism. They wanted gods among men, and by golly, they were gonna find ‘em! What's truly remarkable is that, even on something as simple as a cigarette card, they hint at impressionistic styles, and there is almost a caricature aspect. There's a naivety, perhaps, that lets us see Ross not just as a champion, but as an aspirational figure. Tell me, doesn't this image reek of a time when even tobacco could be heroic? Editor: Absolutely! It’s also fascinating how different it is from our modern celebrity endorsements. This feels almost… sincere, in its way. I never thought I would say this, but these cards romanticize the past by showing strong men, rather than today's Instagram models. Curator: Oh, completely! Now tell me, does that make you want to run out and, I don’t know, attempt hammer throwing yourself? Or at least light up a cigarette? Don't do that. Editor: (Laughing) I think I’ll stick to admiring Mr. Ross from a safe distance. Though, I can certainly appreciate that old-school approach to marketing, connecting athleticism to something every person can consume. Curator: Exactly. We all have our vices and our gods, eh? And sometimes they can both fit on a tiny little card.