Lying Out of It, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

This small chromolithograph, entitled "Lying Out of It," was created around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of jokes included in packs of Duke brand cigarettes. It depicts a man in disarray, sprawled on the floor with an empty bottle, presumably inebriated. The image reflects the social anxieties surrounding alcohol consumption and changing gender roles in late 19th-century America. As the temperance movement gained momentum, anxieties about public health and morality were expressed through popular imagery. Cigarette cards like these offered miniature narratives, often tinged with humor, that reinforced social norms. The "Jokes" series, in particular, used humor to address various social issues. In this case, the humor may have been intended to underscore the consequences of excessive drinking, subtly reinforcing the values of moderation and self-control that were central to the temperance movement. To further understand the social and cultural context of this image, we can turn to sources such as newspapers, magazines, and advertising archives. Such research can reveal much about the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shape artistic production.