Start van de race Parijs-Amsterdam voor automobielen met links in de automobiel barones Hélène van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar Possibly 1898

This photograph by Delizy captures the start of the Paris-Amsterdam automobile race, featuring Baroness Hélène van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar. Images like these, from the turn of the 20th century, offer a window into a transformative era. This photograph, probably French, reflects not only technological advancement but also shifting social dynamics. Note the presence of a woman in what was then a male-dominated sphere. Wealthy individuals, like the Baroness, embraced new technologies, influencing their development and perception. To fully appreciate this image, we can explore the history of automobile racing, the role of women in early motoring, and the social context of the European aristocracy. Through such investigations, we can better understand how art reflects and shapes its cultural moment.