Trade Sign (Boy Riding Bicycle)
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Caption
Lewis Simon American, 1884–1970. Trade Sign (Boy Riding Bicycle), 1932–1934. Painted wood, metal, rubber, other materials, 40 1/2 x 18 x 23 in. (102.9 x 45.7 x 58.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund and Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 74.29. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 74.29_SL1.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Maker
Title
Trade Sign (Boy Riding Bicycle)
Date
1932–1934
Geography
Place manufactured: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Medium
Painted wood, metal, rubber, other materials
Classification
Dimensions
40 1/2 x 18 x 23 in. (102.9 x 45.7 x 58.4 cm)
Signatures
no signature
Inscriptions
no inscriptions
Markings
Metal plate with manufacturer's mark on front shaft of bicycle frame was painted over.
Credit Line
H. Randolph Lever Fund and Dick S. Ramsay Fund
Accession Number
74.29
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
How did this advertising piece end up in the collection?
The artist, Lewis Simon, sold this piece to a dealer named Ivan Karp in 1961. This was purchased by this museum in 1974 from a gallery. This was a time when American museums were interested in collecting American "folk art" and even showing it alongside "fine art" by traditionally trained artists.Can you tell me more about this?
The artist, Lewis Simon (also known as Louis Simon) was born in Russia and immigrated to New York City. He was an avid motorcyclist and he opened a shop to sell and repair motorcycles on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn in 1912. He made several man-on-bike signs like this one. The pedals and wheel would actually move by a motor and the boy's eyes would have lit up.Can this boy still "pedal" the bike or is it too old to work anymore?
The sculpture no longer has the electric motor that made it pedal and it is in delicate condition so I don't know that we would ever try it out. However, I assume if our conservation team said it could be done, he would pedal again with a new motor!Interesting, thanks.You're very welcome.
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