The Cyclist

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: private collection.

In 1916, the artist created two large oil canvases with the same name – “The Cyclist”, and many sketches on this theme. Sironi, who during the war served in bicycle forces, became interested in the idea of replacing a live horse with a dynamic and mobile mechanism that does not require power and fuel. In the picture, the athlete is shown with his back to the viewer; he is rushing along a winding road resembling a bicycle track, against the background of the city landscape. A big figure of a cyclist is depicted schematically, in the dark colour scheme characteristic of its author’s style.