Chris Von der Ahe, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886

Curator: Here we have a card from the Old Judge series (N172), dating to 1886, featuring Chris Von der Ahe, of the St. Louis Browns. These cards were produced by Goodwin & Company, intended as inserts for Old Judge Cigarettes. Editor: The sepia tone lends an antique gravitas, a romanticized notion of the past. It has a tight crop of his head and shoulders, creating an immediacy. Curator: It's interesting how early photography embraced celebrity culture. Imagine finding this in your pack of cigarettes—an instant collectible, a piece of Americana. It's a very material engagement with fame. Editor: Yes, the framing and the composition guides us. We have Von der Ahe looking to his left, in three-quarter view, a conventional choice for portraiture because it balances engagement and formality, doesn't it? It projects seriousness but there's softness as well. Curator: Absolutely. And there’s a calculated connection here, this representation and replication of fame across all echelons of society—the appeal to aspirational consumption and a wider cultural symbolization. Editor: It has an almost painterly quality, the soft focus transforming it beyond a mere snapshot. A carefully constructed image with particular choices in value. The way the dark fabric contrasts with his lighter skin… It gives it dimension, pulling it out from the backdrop. Curator: It’s about memorializing these players, linking them with that winning brand of cigarettes, creating these objects that people would want to hold onto. Each cigarette packet, a mini-archive of the era. That’s powerful. Editor: The textural variations provide visual intrigue as well, creating almost micro-narratives of its own. A rich study in contrasts… I think its graphic impact stands up even today. Curator: Indeed, its cultural relevance persists and makes for a really fascinating insight. Thanks for those great points about form, texture, and overall tonal arrangements! Editor: It's been illuminating to discuss it, offering insight into what truly makes the object.