Olympische Spiele Munchen 1972

Original poster created by Austrian Expressionist Oskar Kokoschka for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Commissioned as part of the official Olympic art-poster series, it reflects the organisers’ ambition to bring contemporary art, international culture and sport together.

Kokoschka depicts a solitary standing male nude whose monumental body recalls the athletes of classical Greece. Rather than illustrating a particular sporting discipline, the artist presents a timeless meditation on the human figure. The athlete’s bowed head and restrained posture suggest introspection and vulnerability, contrasting with the triumphant poses traditionally associated with Olympic imagery.

Loose, multicoloured lines in yellow, pink, red, blue and turquoise define the body against a pale background. Their energetic, almost unfinished quality is characteristic of Kokoschka’s expressive draughtsmanship. Translucent areas of colour soften the figure’s physical presence, while the broken outlines create a subtle impression of movement and nervous energy.

The inscription “Olympische Spiele München 1972” appears in clean modern typography along the bottom. The Olympic rings and Munich’s distinctive radiant spiral emblem occupy the lower-right panel, connecting Kokoschka’s highly personal image with the celebrated graphic identity developed for the Games. Kokoschka’s signature appears within the printed composition.

Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980) was one of the leading figures of Austrian Expressionism, internationally recognised for his psychologically intense portraits, landscapes and works on paper. Produced late in his career, this poster demonstrates how his expressive visual language could be adapted to the monumental and immediate format of public poster design.

A particularly elegant and collectible original Olympic poster, combining modern art, graphic design and sporting history through the work of one of the twentieth century’s most distinctive Expressionist artists.

Original Poster

Olympic Games - Sport - Abstract - Germany

Edited by Olympia - Printed in Germany

Good condition