Velodrome d’Ostende, c. 1895

This exquisite turn-of-the-century lithograph promotes the Velodrome d’Ostende, a now-vanished seaside bicycle track in the Belgian resort city of Ostend. Created by renowned Belgian artists Edouard Duyck and Adolphe Crespin, both respected figures in early poster design, it was printed by the prestigious Gouweloos lithographic house in Brussels.

The design features a stylish female cyclist riding confidently in the foreground, while racers compete behind her along the velodrome’s sunlit curve. A blend of motion, elegance, and whimsy, the composition is richly evocative of Belgium’s coastal leisure culture and the rising popularity of track cycling in the 1890s. The blank area in the lower right would have been used to announce specific events. With its Art Nouveau flair and rare subject matter, this poster is both a historical document and a striking work of decorative art.

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.