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Prepared from the source scan: surroundings removed and the sheet levelled where required. The source record remains available below.
Le Grand Siècle de l’Affiche · The Velocipede
Le Coup de la Semelle, Michelin (O'Galop, 1912)
O'Galop (Marius Rossillon) · Manufacture française des pneumatiques Michelin, 1912
Format
Archival pigment giclée on museum-grade matte art paper, color-managed to the source scan — the flat inks and stone grain intact. The 40×60 is the room-changer.
Size
$39.00
What it is
A colour lithograph by O'Galop for the Manufacture française des pneumatiques Michelin, titled "Le coup de la semelle" with Bibendum, dated 1912 and printed by Chaix, Paris.
Why it matters
The semelle was Michelin's tread for the motor tyre, and the poster turns the product name into a kick.
What to notice
The pun is in the title: semelle is both the tyre tread and the sole of a shoe.
The bicycle sold itself as freedom, and the poster sold the bicycle.
Provenance
- School
- Belle Époque — the Affiche (France)
- Designer
- O'Galop (Marius Rossillon)
- Printer / house
- Imp. Chaix, Paris
- Format
- Advertising poster
- Poster published
- Manufacture française des pneumatiques Michelin, 1912
- Source
- Bibliothèque nationale de France (Gallica) · BnF btv1b6909867k
Live trademarks
Michelin, Bibendum — sold here as history, never adopted into this house’s own branding.
Rights: CLEAR. Public domain — U.S. 95-year rule (published 1930 or earlier). Gated by the poster’s own publication year. Cleared by registry on 2026-11-01.
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Painted Whiskers, our sister studio, will paint your pet in this school’s hand, after Tournée du Chat Noir. See Yours Painted ↗