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Bicycle Races, Frankfurt

Photograph
1930 (photographed), 1930s (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ilse Bing (1899-1998) was one of several leading women photographers in the inter-war period. Born into a Jewish family in Frankfurt, she initially pursued an academic career before moving to Paris in 1930 to concentrate on photography. This photograph of a bicycle race was probably taken just before she left her native Germany for Paris to concentrate on photography in 1930. The subject reveals the excitement of modern machines and technology. The movement of the bikes in the distance contrasts with the static but excited spectators. Bing’s composition is underlined by modernist abstraction – the curve of the racecourse is repeated in the rows of hats, leading the viewer’s eyes to the speeding bikes.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleBicycle Races, Frankfurt (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
'Bicycle Races, Frankfurt', photograph, taken in 1930 by Ilse Bing (1899-1998)
Physical description
Black and white photograph of a crowded stadium full of people watching the bikes racing round the tracks in the distance. Two official men in suits are standing to the left in the centre of the grounds. Most of the spectators, seated on the right of the image, are wearing hats.
Dimensions
  • Sheet width: 23.8cm
  • Sheet height: 18cm
  • Image width: 22.7cm
  • Image height: 16.7cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'[3458-1600-D42]' (reverse in pencil. Ilse Bing Wolff Estate's archival reference for the work assigned prior to acquisition by the V&A.)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Ilse Bing Wolff
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Ilse Bing (1899-1998) was one of several leading women photographers in the inter-war period. Born into a Jewish family in Frankfurt, she initially pursued an academic career before moving to Paris in 1930 to concentrate on photography. This photograph of a bicycle race was probably taken just before she left her native Germany for Paris to concentrate on photography in 1930. The subject reveals the excitement of modern machines and technology. The movement of the bikes in the distance contrasts with the static but excited spectators. Bing’s composition is underlined by modernist abstraction – the curve of the racecourse is repeated in the rows of hats, leading the viewer’s eyes to the speeding bikes.
Collection
Accession number
E.3056-2004

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Record createdOctober 13, 2005
Record URL
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