Hairpin bend in the Alps

by Sidney van den Boogaard

High in the Alps, a red 1930s race car with number 4 swings into a hairpin, dust swirling up from the mountain road. Spectators sit on the stone wall with their legs above the drop, the snowy peaks behind them. The work is inspired by the classic hill climbs, in which drivers raced against the clock to the top of a mountain pass, bend after bend. The fresh blue sky and the green alpine meadows give the work light and space, while the curve of the road draws your eye into the depth.

This work is part of the Golden Racing Years series: ten painterly scenes from the days of leather helmets, roaring engines and crowds lining the track. All the works share the same warm, muted colours and loose brushwork, so they combine easily as a pair, a triptych or a full gallery wall.

The work was created digitally, based on my own concept, composition and colour choices. I then finished it myself: removed badges and logos, refined the crop and added a fine grain and a print-ready colour profile. The cars, drivers and places are fictional and do not refer to real people or brands.

A lovely gift for anyone who smiles at the sound of an old engine: for the study, the garage or above the desk.