Card 34, from the Girl Cyclists series (N49) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1887

This is Card 34 from the Girl Cyclists series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, created by Allen & Ginter. Here, the sepia tone and compact format converge to frame a portrait of a woman poised beside a high-wheel bicycle. The photograph captures a moment of transition. A woman with a determined gaze, half-mounted on an oversized bicycle, appears ready to launch into motion. The exaggerated scale of the wheel dominates the composition, drawing immediate attention to its circular form, which contrasts sharply with the angular lines of the bicycle frame and the figure's posture. The bicycle's large wheel, combined with the rider's confident stance, speaks to broader themes of progress and the changing role of women in society. Note how the spokes of the wheel create a complex pattern, a visual metaphor for the intricate societal shifts occurring during the late 19th century. It's a reminder that artworks, even in the form of a small card, are deeply embedded in cultural narratives, reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world.