Artpress's 'Art & Sport' abecedary explores the bicycle as 'little queen'
The sixth installment of artpress's 'Art & Sport' series, in anticipation of the Paris 2024 Olympics, delves into the French term 'petite reine' for bicycles, which is associated with Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who ascended the throne in 1890. During her visit to Paris in 1896, she was referred to as 'La Petite Reine à bicyclette.' The article links bicycles to the realm of French sports journalism, referencing Pierre Giffard's 1890 article 'La Reine Bicyclette' and the inaugural cycling event, Paris-Brest-Paris, held on September 6, 1891. Additionally, Marcel Duchamp's 1913 work 'Bicycle Wheel' signifies a pivotal moment in conceptual art. Current exhibitions include 'En jeu!' at Musée Marmottan-Monet and 'Match' at Musée du Luxembourg, with Alain Séchas's 2005 sculpture 'La Cycliste' displayed in Brussels.
Key facts
- The term 'petite reine' for bicycle originated from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who cycled in Paris in 1896.
- Pierre Giffard wrote 'La Reine Bicyclette' in Le Figaro on October 4, 1890.
- Giffard launched Paris-Brest-Paris on September 6, 1891, with over 200 participants.
- Giffard founded Le Vélo in 1892, the first French daily sports newspaper, which ran until 1904.
- L'Auto-Vélo, created by Henri Desgrange (founder of Tour de France in 1903), replaced Le Vélo and became L'Équipe in 1946.
- Marcel Duchamp's 'Bicycle Wheel' (1913) is considered the first ready-made.
- Exhibition 'En jeu!' at Musée Marmottan-Monet runs April 4–September 1, 2024.
- Exhibition 'Match' at Musée du Luxembourg runs March 13–August 11, 2024.
- The 1889 'Hirondelle superbe' bicycle is from Manufacture d'armes et de cycles de Saint-Étienne.
- Alain Séchas's 'La Cycliste' (2005) is a public sculpture in Brussels.
Entities
Artists
- Marcel Duchamp
- Jean Metzinger
- Fernand Léger
- Alain Séchas
- Mathieu van der Poel
- Tadej Pogačar
- Raymond Poulidor
Institutions
- artpress
- Musée Marmottan-Monet
- Musée du Luxembourg
- Musée Würth
- Le Petit Journal
- Le Figaro
- Le Vélo
- L'Auto-Vélo
- L'Équipe
- Manufacture d'armes et de cycles de Saint-Étienne
- Bamboo Bicycle Club
- Centre Pompidou
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Netherlands
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Erstein
- Alsace
- Saint-Étienne
- Venice
- Italy
Sources
- artpress —