Flashing Motorists - Raphael Kirchner

A series of six Belle Époque illustrations by Raphael Kirchner depicting women driving early automobiles. These works capture the fashion and excitement of the Edwardian motoring era.

Raphael Kirchner was an Austrian artist who became a leading figure in the golden age of postcards during the early twentieth century. This series, titled Flashing Motorists, depicts women at the wheel of early automobiles. These illustrations were produced during a period when the motor car was a new symbol of speed and modernity. Kirchner moved to Paris in 1900, where his work gained popularity for its depiction of the Parisienne woman. The images show various scenes of Edwardian motoring. In one panel, two women sit under an umbrella in an open-top carriage. Another shows a driver navigating at night with glowing headlamps. The figures wear the fashionable attire of the day, including heavy coats, hats, and protective veils designed to shield against dust and wind. Kirchner uses a soft, painterly approach that contrasts with the mechanical nature of the vehicles. The compositions often place the car at an angle to suggest movement and momentum. The red car in the centre left panel is shown in profile, its driver leaning forward with focus. The background is a simple wash of sky and distant trees, which keeps the attention on the vehicle and its occupant. In the bottom panel, a driver is silhouetted against a darkening sky, the brass components of the car catching the last light of day. This use of light and shadow is a recurring element in Kirchner's commercial work. Kirchner's style is characteristic of the Belle Époque. He focuses on the elegance of his subjects while incorporating the technological advancements of the era. These works were originally published as a set of postcards by Theo Stroefer in Nuremberg. They represent a shift in social norms, as women were increasingly portrayed in active, independent roles. The colour palette is varied, ranging from the cool greys of a winter drive to the warm oranges of a sunset.