The first archive is a zinc stencil print by Le Manach from 1929. Very Art Deco in composition and color, it depicts two couples playing lawn tennis, rowers in action, and two speeding automobiles, their movement emphasized by curved lines. Yes, back then, car racing was a sport too. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans were organized in 1923.
The second print by Lauer from the 1920s, showcases numerous sports, many of them Olympic disciplines: tennis, golf, athletics, yachting, and even aerial acrobatics. On closer inspection, it raises questions about sports practiced by women. Indeed, sports encourage movement, adapt clothing, and liberate the body. Post-war, more and more women took up sports.
Yet, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, still opposed their participation. However, thanks to the determination of visionary women like Alice Milliat, champion rower, organized the first Women's Olympic Games in Paris in 1922. These events were covered in the press and graced magazine covers, even dubbed "Olympiads of Grace".
Photo - Alice Milliat rowing, 1913
Whether for leisure or competition, sports reflect a modern society undergoing profound changes in its relationship with the body, movement, and space.
Print designers couldn’t resist exploring the graphic possibilities of these dynamic bodies. If you are in Paris, don't miss the ongoing exhibition called "Fashion on the Move" at Palais Galliera !
Photo - Gouache on paper, 1920s
