A Foul Tip
The late nineteenth-century Darktown prints by Currier & Ives depict racist stereotypes that are offensive and disturbing. The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves such works to shed light on their historical context and to enable the study and evaluation of racism.
In this sports scene, four Black (African-American) baseball players stand in a row with their arms outstretched so their fists point at the face of another Black man perched on a barrel labeled "UMPIRE." The baseball players wear striped shirts, while the umpire wears a white stovepipe hat, a dark grey jacket, green vest and striped pale orange/pink pants. In the central foreground, two baseball bats lay on the ground. In the right background, spectators watch other players wrestling. In the left background, two pairs of players stand arguing.
Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907. The artist of this print is Thomas Worth, a prolific nineteenth-century illustrator who excelled at drawing horses and other subjects, many of which were made into lithographs published by Currier & Ives.
In this sports scene, four Black (African-American) baseball players stand in a row with their arms outstretched so their fists point at the face of another Black man perched on a barrel labeled "UMPIRE." The baseball players wear striped shirts, while the umpire wears a white stovepipe hat, a dark grey jacket, green vest and striped pale orange/pink pants. In the central foreground, two baseball bats lay on the ground. In the right background, spectators watch other players wrestling. In the left background, two pairs of players stand arguing.
Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907. The artist of this print is Thomas Worth, a prolific nineteenth-century illustrator who excelled at drawing horses and other subjects, many of which were made into lithographs published by Currier & Ives.
Artwork Details
- Title: A Foul Tip
- Series/Portfolio: Darktown Series
- Artist: Thomas B. Worth (American, New York 1834–1917 Staten Island, New York)
- Publisher: Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
- Date: 1882
- Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
- Dimensions: Image: 9 in. × 13 3/8 in. (22.9 × 34 cm)
Image and text: 10 in. × 13 3/8 in. (25.4 × 34 cm)
Sheet: 13 1/2 × 17 5/8 in. (34.3 × 44.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of A. S. Colgate, 1952
- Object Number: 52.632.141
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
James McNeill Whistler
1878
James McNeill Whistler
1879–80
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890–1896
Anonymous, French, 19th century
Toussaint Louverture
1802
Multiple artists/makers
1850–59
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.