Kaufmann Troupe
Printer
Friedlander
Datecirca 1896
MediumInk on paper
Dimensions1/2 sheet (V): 27 3/4 x 18 3/4 in. (70.5 x 47.6 cm)
ClassificationsPosters
Credit LineTibbals Circus Collection
Object numberht2004215
With increasing industrialization and women entering the urban workforce, there was a new focus on women’s personal liberties and pursuits of their individual interests. The bicycle became a symbol of the “New Woman” not only because of the freedom it afforded but also because the bicycle helped inaugurate a change in women’s athletic fashions from long, cumbersome skirts to pant-like bloomers.
The performers of the Kaufmann Troupe exemplified the image of the “New Woman,” with the female performers dressed in pantaloons and blouses that were almost identical to their male counterparts. In 1896, the troupe was featured in a theatrical revue with strongman Eugene Sandow, promoting lessons in scientific physical culture. The women of the Kaufmann troupe doubtlessly were used as examples of the benefits of physical activity to the beauty, physique, and general health of women. The troupe’s trick riding was showcased in theaters across American and Europe and in 1904 that the Kaufmann Troupe made its debut with the Ringling circus.
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