Trapeze Exercise, from the Pretty Athletes series (N196) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. by William S. Kimball & Company

Trapeze Exercise, from the Pretty Athletes series (N196) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

drawing, print

drawing

toned paper

light pencil work

yellowing background

print

curved letter used

coloured pencil

coffee painting

underpainting

men

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

athlete

watercolor

"Trapeze Exercise" is a chromolithograph from the "Pretty Athletes" series issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. The artwork features a woman in a colorful costume, holding onto a trapeze bar. The card is an example of the popular "trade card" genre, used as advertising by businesses like Wm. S. Kimball & Co., a piano manufacturing company. The image captures the daring and athleticism of a trapeze artist, demonstrating the appeal of circus entertainment during the late 19th century. Today, the card is preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.