Eleanor Grosch – History of Cycling 2 – Giro d’Italia – 5 Giugno 1988 – Digital Print

Description

An original signed digital print by the American illustrator and artist Eleanor Grosch from her History of Cycling series, commemorating one of the most celebrated and extreme stages in the history of the Giro d’Italia: the crossing of the Passo Gavia on 5 June 1988.

Grosch presents a solitary racing cyclist head-on, bent over the handlebars and surrounded by a dense field of snow. The rider’s blue, red and white jersey stands out vividly against a predominantly icy palette of pale blue, grey and white, while large stylised snowflakes settle across his shoulders, arms and legs. The dramatically simplified bicycle, reduced almost entirely to its handlebars, fork and narrow front wheel, directs the composition towards the rider and intensifies the impression of forward movement through severe conditions.

The small chainring-like emblem in the lower left is inscribed “5 Guigno 1988”. Guigno is an apparent misspelling by Grosch of the Italian giugno, meaning June. The inscription therefore refers to 5 June 1988, the date of Stage 14 of the 1988 Giro d’Italia, when the race crossed the Passo Gavia on its way to Bormio.

That stage has become one of the most famous episodes in the history of professional road racing. Heavy snow had fallen overnight and, although the road was cleared sufficiently for the race to proceed, conditions deteriorated dramatically as the riders climbed. Freezing temperatures, fog and renewed snowfall turned the ascent and descent of the Gavia into an extraordinary test of endurance.

Dutch rider Johan van der Velde was first over the summit but suffered badly from the cold during the descent. Erik Breukink ultimately won the stage at Bormio, while American Andrew Hampsten finished second and took possession of the race leader’s pink jersey, the maglia rosa. Hampsten retained the overall lead and went on to win the 1988 Giro d’Italia, becoming the first American to win the race.

The snow is therefore central to Grosch’s design rather than simply decorative. The repeated snowflakes, pale stippled ground and hunched posture of the cyclist evoke the severity of the weather and the physical hardship associated with the Gavia stage. Grosch does not attempt a literal reconstruction of the race; instead, she reduces the event to its most recognisable visual elements: the rider, the bicycle, the snow and the date.

The cyclist is constructed from sharply defined geometric forms, and the face is largely obscured, allowing the figure to function less as an individual portrait than as an emblem of endurance. The red, blue and white jersey provides a strong contrast with the wintry background and draws the eye directly towards the rider.

The chainring motif incorporating the date acts almost as a commemorative device within the composition. The unusual spelling “Guigno” is retained here exactly as it appears on the print and forms part of the work itself.

The work is characteristic of Grosch’s distinctive graphic language, combining simplified forms, strong silhouettes, carefully controlled colour and decorative pattern with a clear affinity for mid-century Modernist illustration and poster design. Although digitally produced, subtle textures throughout the background, clothing and figure give the image a tactile, print-like quality.

An especially interesting example of Grosch’s cycling oeuvre, commemorating a precisely identifiable event of major significance in the history of the Giro d’Italia and professional road racing.

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. Signed.

Artist: Eleanor Grosch

Series: History of Cycling

Title: Giro d’Italia – 2 – 5 Guigno 1988

Date: Contemporary

Subject: 1988 Giro d’Italia, Stage 14, Passo Gavia

Medium: Digital print on paper

Size: 45.8 × 30.4 cm

Signature: Signed by Eleanor Grosch.

Note: The printed inscription reads “5 Guigno 1988”; Guigno is an apparent misspelling of the Italian giugno. We have used ‘giugno’ in our description.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.