?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 15,000 - $ 20,000
ARTIST UNKNOWN CYCLES GLADIATOR. Circa 1895. 381/2x53 inches. G. Massias, Paris. Condition B+: repaired tears and heavy overpainting in margins. During the 1890s when bicycles were one of the most advertised products in the poster world, the fantastic concept that a bicycle was powerful enough to propel a rider into space was used surprisingly frequently (see Swann Auction #1945 lot 59, Swann Auction #1991 lot 41). This is the most spectacular of all the posters mixing science fiction with turn-of-the-century eroticism, showing naked, beautiful woman (one can't help but wonder where the censors were when this project was proposed!) with extravagant red hair being pulled through the cosmos by her bicycle. The spokes sparkle like stars and two little wings on the bicyle pedals add to the kitschy charm and surrealist nature of the image. Although the poster is signed "LW" it is still considered anonymous, as the only possible LW is Lucein Weiluc, and this does not appear to be his work. Dodge p. 117, Voici p. 11.
