Abstract:

Inspired by a 1901 article in La Presse titled "Cyclisme Communard," we explore the significance of the velocipede and its cultural and historical connections to the Commune. The embodiment of freedom and mobility before the war, the velocipede came to be seen as out of place during the siege when riding could be considered an informal act of treason. We argue that the many journalistic, literary, and artistic representations of the velocipede mirror the cultural shifts brought about by the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune: from the enthusiasm of the late 1860s, to the fear at the beginning of the war, the despair of the siege, the sorrow during the aftermath, and the hope of a slow "rebirth."

摘要：

受到1901年在La Presse发表的题为“ Cyclisme Communard”的启发，我们探索了脚踏车的意义及其与公社的文化和历史联系。战前人们表现出自由和机动性的体现，在人们认为骑车被视为叛国行为时，在围攻过程中，脚踏车显得格格不入。我们认为，脚踏车的许多新闻，文学和艺术表现都反映了法普战争和公社带来的文化变化：从1860年代后期的热情，到战争开始时的恐惧，围困的绝望，灾后的悲伤以及缓慢的“重生”的希望。