Eleanor Grosch – Alpe d’Huez – Tour de France – Digital Print

Description

An original digital print by the American illustrator and artist Eleanor Grosch, inspired by Alpe d’Huez, one of the most famous climbs in the history of the Tour de France.

Two cyclists ride across the foreground of a highly stylised Alpine landscape, their bicycles and bodies reduced to Grosch’s characteristic combination of clean geometric forms, sweeping circular wheels and carefully controlled colour. The leading rider wears the familiar white jersey with red polka dots associated with the Tour de France King of the Mountains classification, while the second cyclist follows closely in green and black.

Behind them, the landscape rises dramatically in a sequence of sharply simplified mountain forms. Grosch uses broad areas of yellow, green, blue and pale grey to suggest the high Alpine environment, while a thin winding line snakes across the green slope in the distance, evoking the celebrated hairpin bends for which Alpe d’Huez is renowned.

The composition is deliberately economical. Rather than attempting a literal topographical view, Grosch reduces the climb to its essential visual elements: cyclists, mountain, winding road, sun and sky. This simplicity gives the work the clarity and immediacy of a classic sporting poster.

Alpe d’Huez occupies a particularly important place in Tour de France history. Its steep ascent and sequence of famous hairpin bends have made it one of the race’s most recognisable mountain finishes, closely associated with attacks, breakaways and decisive battles for the overall classification and King of the Mountains competition.

The polka-dot jersey worn by the leading cyclist reinforces the climbing theme and gives the image an unmistakable Tour de France identity. Grosch’s simplified treatment of the riders allows the landscape itself to become a central part of the composition, with the sweeping road in the distance creating a visual connection between the foreground cyclists and the mountain above.

The work is characteristic of Grosch’s distinctive graphic language, in which bicycles, riders and landscape are translated into flattened geometric forms, bold silhouettes and carefully balanced areas of colour. Although digitally produced, subtle textural variation across the road, sky and mountain surfaces gives the print a tactile quality rather than the appearance of a purely computer-generated image.

The restrained palette of pale blue, yellow, green, grey, black and red gives the composition a clean and highly decorative character, while the broad shapes and simplified perspective reveal Grosch’s strong affinity with mid-century Modernist illustration and European travel-poster design.

An attractive example of Grosch’s cycling imagery, with particular appeal to collectors of Tour de France memorabilia, Alpine cycling art and contemporary graphic illustration.

Cycling has genuine personal significance within Grosch’s work. Originally from Florida, she studied Fine Art at the University of South Florida before relocating to Philadelphia in 2005. In an early interview, Grosch specifically discussed her enjoyment of travelling around Philadelphia by bicycle, describing the city’s scale as particularly suited to cycling.

Grosch has subsequently established a successful career in American illustration and graphic design. Her work is particularly associated with simplified forms, strong shapes, pattern and carefully controlled colour, creating a distinctive contemporary interpretation of mid-century graphic design. Her clients have included Giro, Keds, Urban Outfitters, Starbucks and San Diego Zoo, and she was selected as one of Print magazine’s New Visual Artists in 2008.

Condition: Fine condition. The printed surface is clean and well preserved, with strong, unfaded colour. Not signed. With the artist’s blindstamp.

Artist: Eleanor Grosch

Title: Alpe d’Huez

Subject: Tour de France / Alpine professional road cycling

Date: Contemporary

Medium: Digital print on paper

Size: 45.8 × 30.4 cm

Signature: Not signed.

Blindstamp: With Eleanor Grosch’s blindstamp.

Authenticity: Personally curated by Daniel Hornsey for Hornseys. Every artwork is handled, inspected and authenticated in-house at our Ripon gallery. We wholly own all the artworks offered for sale.

SHOP WITH CONFIDENCE AT HORNSEYS

At Hornseys, we are committed to offering art prints and related works by American illustrator and designer Eleanor Grosch that meet high standards of authenticity, condition and visual quality. Our collection has been carefully selected to represent Grosch’s distinctive contribution to contemporary American illustration and graphic design, including her particularly appealing interpretations of cycling, architecture, travel, animals and narrative subjects.

Every item is individually examined, researched and catalogued before being offered for sale.

What Sets Us Apart

Authenticity and Provenance:
Each Eleanor Grosch print or related work is carefully assessed and accurately identified. Titles, signatures, edition details, inscriptions, printing information and provenance are recorded wherever available, helping collectors to buy with confidence. We take particular care to describe the printing process correctly and to distinguish digital prints from traditional screenprints, limited editions and other forms of original printmaking.

Expert Curation:
We wholly own every artwork that we offer. We trust our judgement, invest directly in the material we select and only offer works in which we have confidence. Our Eleanor Grosch collection has been individually selected for the quality of the imagery, condition and its representation of the artist’s distinctive graphic style.

Detailed Cataloguing:
Each item is described individually, with information provided on title or subject, medium, dimensions, signature, edition, date, condition and provenance wherever known. We research the context of individual designs where appropriate, particularly Grosch’s cycling imagery, architectural subjects and works inspired by places, professional road racing and contemporary urban life.

Customer Satisfaction:
We strive to provide an exceptional purchasing experience, combining knowledgeable descriptions, clear condition reports, secure packing and prompt delivery. Further information or additional photographs can be supplied where required.

Unconditional Returns Guarantee:
Every item is offered with our unconditional guarantee. Should you wish to return a work for any reason, it may be sent back within fourteen days of receipt. We ask that you notify us in advance and that the item is returned in the same condition in which it was received. A full refund will then be issued.

OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND SERVICE

We understand the individuality, decorative quality and collectable appeal of Eleanor Grosch’s work. Every aspect of your purchase is therefore handled with care, from research, cataloguing and condition assessment to packing and delivery.

Free Expedited, Tracked and Insured UK Delivery:
All Eleanor Grosch prints and artworks are securely packed and sent using an appropriate tracked and insured service, ensuring that they arrive safely and promptly.

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International collectors can purchase with confidence through our reliable, tracked and fully insured worldwide shipping service.

EXPLORE OUR ELEANOR GROSCH COLLECTION

Explore our evolving collection of Eleanor Grosch art prints and illustrations. Grosch’s distinctive visual language combines simplified geometric forms, carefully controlled colour, pattern and an economy of line with a strong affinity for mid-century Modernist illustration and poster design.

Cycling forms a particularly engaging strand of her work, ranging from images celebrating everyday bicycle culture to designs inspired by professional road racing and famous European cycling landscapes. Other works explore architecture, city life, animals, travel and narrative subjects, all interpreted through Grosch’s immediately recognisable graphic style.

Whether you are an established collector, an enthusiast of cycling art, an admirer of contemporary American illustration and graphic design, or searching for an unusual and memorable gift, our collection offers the opportunity to acquire carefully selected examples of Eleanor Grosch’s work.

Established in 1976 and based in Ripon, North Yorkshire, Hornseys is an independent gallery and bookseller specialising in original art, prints, design, collectable books and historic material. Every item is handled, inspected and catalogued in-house at our Ripon gallery.