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This satirical lithograph, Le Grand Prix de Paris, created by Albert Guillaume, was published as part of the December 14, 1901, issue of L'Assiette au Beurre (No. 37).
The image humorously depicts a fictional aviation event inspired by the early experiments of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, who designed and successfully flew the first practical dirigibles starting in 1898.
In the scene, the President of the Republic is shown with his "presidential balloon" ascending into the sky to oversee the event. The composition is dominated by dirigibles flying in formation, their colorful, patchwork designs providing a whimsical contrast to the formal gathering below. The pilots of the airships, dressed as cyclists, pedal their vehicles, emphasizing the lighthearted tone of the artwork and the imaginative depiction of early aviation.
The lithograph, signed by Guillaume in the lower left, blends humor, commentary on technological progress, and a playful exaggeration of contemporary interest in air travel. Published during the height of Santos-Dumont's fame.
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