1921 Bordeaux-Paris. Jean Alavoine. Art Deco. by Mich.

$4,800.00

This poster is an original first printing, not a reproduction.

This striking Art Deco poster from 1921 is one of famed poster artist Michel Liebeaux’s (aka “Mich”) finest cycling pieces. This oversized poster with minimal text takes command of a room. Alavoine is front and center, with the flag-identified L’Auto organizer car dutifully following his solo pursuit under stormy weather conditions at the 1921 edition of Bordeaux-Paris. A testament to the power of poster advertising at the time, this poster was commissioned to celebrate Alavoine’s 2nd place finish at the epic 587km one day race. Jean Alavoine was an absolute monster in the 1920s and 1930s. Between 1909 and 1925, he won 17 Tour de France stages, placing him 8th on the all-time stage winner list. He accomplished this feat despite the Tour’s absence during WWI and the fact there were fewer stages during his career than there are today.

This poster has been archivally and professionally linen-backed . Virtually all original vintage posters of this era were viewed as temporary advertising and were printed on fragile, thin paper. While expensive, linen backing is a conservation method used to mount, stabilize, preserve, and protect vintage posters so they can be displayed or framed without compromising value.

Artist: Michel “Mich” Liebeaux, 1881-1923

Year: 1921

Size: 45.7 x 61.5 in. / 116 x 156.3 cm. – Linen Backed Archival Mounting

Printer: Wall, Paris

Condition: See photos. Linen Backed Archival Mounting

This is a one of a kind item; please review the photos carefully to determine the condition.

Out of stock

Description

Vintage posters are the original form of advertising. These posters, made to advertise products, were never intended to last; they were hung outdoors, rained on, and eventually torn down or covered up. The early process of stone lithography created beautiful images, but quantities were small; generally, only 2,000 to 3,000 were printed. The examples that have survived are those that were not displayed; they are the extras that didn’t get used.

By the 1950s, posters were being printed using processes much more technologically advanced than labor-intensive stone lithography. Modern Era Posters are crisp, vibrant, and capture the riders at the perfect moment in time. Official race posters have bold color schemes that jump off the wall. From its roots in the second half of the 1800s, contemporary posters continue to tell the ever-evolving story of cycling.

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This is a one of a kind item, please review the photos carefully to determine condition.

Additional information

Weight 3 lbs