Olympische Spiele Munchen 1972

Created for the 1972 Munich Olympics, this powerful original poster by renowned American artist Jacob Lawrence stands as a compelling intersection of sport, art, and identity. Part of a prestigious series where 28 international artists were commissioned to interpret the Games, Lawrence’s work brings his unmistakable modernist style to the world of athletics.

The composition is electric with movement. A group of Black relay runners, captured mid-sprint and in full stride, surges toward the finish line. Lawrence flattens the perspective and fragments the forms, using bold blocks of color and angular dynamism to convey momentum, determination, and unity. The figures are muscular and stylized, their limbs overlapping like gears in a machine built for speed and purpose.

Lawrence, long known for his depictions of African American life and history, imbues the piece with a deeper resonance. This is more than a race—it is a celebration of resilience, representation, and the global stage of possibility. At a time when racial and political tensions remained high, his poster becomes a subtle but powerful assertion of dignity and excellence.

Part of the official visual identity of the Munich Games—an Olympics remembered for both innovation and tragedy—this poster encapsulates the hopeful, unifying spirit that the event aspired to. Lawrence’s vision is not just about who wins the race, but about how powerfully one runs it.

Olympic Games - Sport - Germany

Printed by Olympia in Germany

Good condition, slight creases