Roll Over, from the Gymnastic Exercises series (N77) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This is "Roll Over," a lithograph card created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920. The card was included in packs of Duke brand cigarettes, and depicts a woman performing acrobatics on a large ball. These cards offer insight into the cultural values of the time, particularly regarding the representation of women. On one hand, the image celebrates female athleticism and physical strength, diverging from the more conventional demure representations of women. On the other hand, the card also reflects the commodification of women’s bodies. The image is ultimately used to sell cigarettes, intertwining female representation with capitalist enterprise. These cards were widely circulated and collected, making them important artifacts that reveal the complex ways in which gender, commerce, and visual culture intersected in society. They capture how women were both celebrated and exploited in the public sphere.