Acatene Metropole Cycle

Cycling became very popular as it became more accessible to more of the public in the early 1900s. It became closely linked to the early women's rights movements as a symbol of their burgeoning independence. For the first time in the modern era, women could go wherever they wished, whenever they wished, completely alone. This early poster highlights this newfound freedom with Acatene Metropole chainless bicycles and American-made G&J tires. Men (representing "Old England") leer over a wall at the jubilant independent woman who needs nothing from them. She points at another poster for the company - an actual design created by the same artist about ten years prior. Look how far her riding clothes have come in the past decade! The message here is that the Acatene Metropole company is one of modernity and independence.

Lucien Baylac (1851 - 1911) was a French illustrator known mostly for his bicycle poster designs and illustrations of the L'Exposition Universelle of 1900. Unfortuantely, there is not much else known about his life.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is linen backed and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.