Prix de Paris | 1956

Prix de Paris Automobile, 1956, by Géo Ham

This dynamic poster features a stylised racing driver depicted in vibrant orange and blue tones against a bright orange background. The driver, wearing a white helmet with goggles and a racing scarf billowing in the wind, is shown intensely focused while gripping a steering wheel. Only the upper body of the driver and a portion of the race car are visible, with the back wheel prominently displayed on the left side of the composition. The bold black text "PRIX DE PARIS" dominates the lower portion of the poster, with "AUTOMOBILE" in yellow beneath it. Additional information appears in smaller text, detailing "6 COURSES INTERNATIONALES" (6 international races) at the "AUTODROME LINAS-MONTLHÉRY" on "29 AVRIL 1956" (29 April 1956). Small figures of race officials holding yellow flags appear at the bottom corners, alongside the Valvoline motor oil sponsorship branding. Géo Ham's distinctive signature appears in the upper left corner of the poster.

The Prix de Paris Automobile was a significant motor racing event held at the historic Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, a motorsport circuit located about 30 kilometres south of Paris. Built in 1924 by industrialist Alexandre Lamblin, the circuit was one of the earliest purpose-built racing tracks in Europe, featuring both an oval speed ring with steeply banked corners and a road circuit. By the mid-1950s, European motorsport was experiencing a post-war renaissance, with manufacturers like Ferrari, Maserati, and Mercedes-Benz competing in high-profile races. The 1956 Prix de Paris was organised by two racing associations, represented by the initials "A.G.A.C.I." and "A.C.I.F." shown on the poster. Tragically, 1956 was also marked by a fatal accident at the Autodrome when Swiss racing driver Benoît Nicolas Musy was killed during a race at the circuit. The mention of "6 COURSES INTERNATIONALES" indicates that the event featured multiple international race categories, likely including both sports cars and single-seater racing machines, showcasing the diversity of motorsport during this golden era of racing.

Georges Hamel (1900-1972), who signed his work as Géo Ham, was one of France's most celebrated illustrators of automotive and aviation subjects. Born in Laval, France, Ham developed an early passion for drawing vehicles after witnessing a motor race in his hometown at age 13. After moving to Paris and studying at the prestigious École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs from 1918, Ham established himself as a leading commercial artist specialising in dynamic depictions of speed and movement. What made Ham's work particularly authentic was his personal involvement in motorsport—he was not merely an observer but participated as a driver himself, even competing in the 1934 Le Mans 24 Hours race in a 2-litre Derby, though fuel problems forced his retirement. This direct experience gave his illustrations a rare technical accuracy and emotional authenticity. Between the 1920s and 1960s, Ham created iconic posters for nearly every major French motorsport event, including numerous works for the Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hours. His distinctive style combined Art Deco sensibilities with dynamic compositions and anatomically expressive depictions of drivers, often featuring dramatic angles and exaggerated details to convey the sensation of speed and the intensity of racing.