This year, for the first time, the Tour de France started from Italy, with the first stage from Florence to Rimini, followed by three other ’Italian’ stages through some Italian regions before getting back the Grande Boucle to French territory. On the occasion of the event, the exhibition “Magnum e la bicicletta” / “Il Tour de France” is on show in Spilimbergo, in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Some 80 photographs from Magnum’s archive are on display. They explore the world of cycling in an original and in-depth way. The journey begins with the photographs taken by Robert Capa in 1939 up to this day, through the lens of Alex Majoli.
Among other champions, two great Italian riders, Gino Bartali and Marco Pantani, former winners of the Tour, are celebrated together with Ottavio Bottecchia, who won the race in 1924 and 1925. The exhibition explores the human dimension of this sport by recounting the epics of the champions and the great international events, starting with the Tour de France.
The exhibition opens with a series of photographs taken by Robert Capa, who made his name as a photojournalist during the Spanish Civil War. In 1939 he was commissioned by Match magazine to follow the Tour de France that year. The focus is on the participation of the public, who, on the roadsides and at the finish line, support the champions, identifying with them. With the Second World War at its doorstep, the 1939 edition of the Tour de France appeared subdued, with only 79 participants covering the 4,224-kilometer route. Capa decided to work with a Contax 35mm camera. It also allowed him to take a greater number of photographs, with speed and flexibility. So, he could get on a motorcycle and photograph “unseen” aspects of the race. His gaze went beyond the competition and focused mainly on the human scenario that revolved around the race.
As early as 1987, the Società Operaia di Spilimbergo hosted the exhibition Robert Capa. Fotografo 1932-1954. “Thirty-seven years later, again here in Spilimbergo, a history in images dedicated to the famous cycling race is told to coincide with the centenary of Ottavio Bottecchia’s historic victory in the 1924 edition”, the Mayor of Spilimbergo Enrico Sarcinelli says.
Another series includes photos of the 1954 Tour de France taken by Guy Le Querrec, who says “I was 13 at the time. (…) I was a great admirer of Fausto Coppi and I have always liked cycling because I find it can mold people”. He was on holiday in Brittany, where the famous race was being held that year. Some thirty years later, in 1985, he was invited to follow the Renault-Elf cycling team during winter training; that season he photographed champion Laurent Fignon and followed the cyclocross championship. Then there are the images by Christopher Anderson of cyclist Lance Amstrong (2004). One section is devoted to spectators and their ‘rituals’ with photos by Mark Power, Robert Capa, Harry Gruyaert and Richard Kalvar; another one is composed of photos by Harry Gruyaert in the 1982 Tour and another one is devoted to velodromes, with pictures by René Burri, Stuart Franklin and Raymond Depardon. Alex Majoli is presenting photographs dedicated to the Milanese bike manufacturer Alberto Masi and his workshop under the curves of the Vigorelli velodrome. Finally, a selection of images by Peter Marlow is dedicated to the daily life of the riders during the Tour de Bretagne in 2003.
The images by all the authors show the encounter between artistic spirit and reportage, with the human dimension always at the centre. And the balanced mix of the many points of view that make up a story composed by storytellers who are photojournalists and members of Magnum Photos is an evident fil-rouge. Before the advent of television broadcasts, the only way to see a cycling race was to be physically present.
“The celebration of the 111th Tour de France is in the form of a scientific project in partnership with Magnum Photos, with an exhibition hosted at the Centro di Ricerca ed Archiviazione della Fotografia – CRAF’s headquarters in Palazzo Tadea”, Davide De Lucia, President of CRAF, says. The exhibition is organized by Centro di Ricerca e Archiviazione della Fotografia with Suazes and Magnum Photos, in collaboration with Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Comune di Spilimbergo, with the support of Fondazione Friuli e the patronage of Università degli Studi di Udine.
Catalogue curated by Alvise Rampini and Marco Minuz, published by Silvana Editoriale.
Paola Sammartano
“Magnum e la bicicletta” / “Il Tour de France”
Tour de France by Robert Capa and other photographers of Magnum
July 6 to September 29, 2024
Palazzo Tadea
Piazza Castello 4
33097 Spilimbergo – PN
Italy
www.craf-fvg.it
