Description

Bianchi Cycles — Plinio Codognato, c.1911–1920

Bianchi is not merely a bicycle manufacturer — it is an Italian institution. Founded in Milan in 1885 by Edoardo Bianchi, the company grew to become one of the dominant forces in both competitive and recreational cycling through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its distinctive celeste colour became famous on the roads of the Giro d’Italia, and its advertising imagery was among the most stylish of any manufacturer of the era.

Plinio Codognato (1878–1940) was one of the great Italian poster artists of the early 20th century — a master of the decorative line, bold colour, and the kind of dynamic composition that stopped people in their tracks on a city street. His work for Bianchi, produced across the 1910s, captures the cycling world at a pivotal moment: the sport was professionalising rapidly, the machines were becoming faster and more sophisticated, and cycling posters had evolved into genuine works of art.

This image — produced somewhere in the decade between 1911 and 1920 — reflects Codognato’s mature style: confident, vivid, and possessed of the graphic authority that has made his work increasingly sought after by collectors of Italian vintage poster art.

Digitally restored by an artist — surface wear removed, colours refreshed, vintage character retained. Copyright: Personal use only — no resale or redistribution.

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