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One sheet previously mounted This iconic image is the
official poster for the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden. It is a landmark in sports history as the first official poster ever created to advertise the Olympic Games.
The Artist and Design
The poster was designed by Olle Hjortzberg (1872–1959), a prominent Swedish professor and artist known for his church murals and decorative painting.
Symbolism: The central figure is a classically idealized, nude male athlete—often described as an "Adonis-type"—who is brandishing the Swedish flag. He leads a "parade of nations," where athletes from different countries wave their respective flags as they march toward the common goal of the Olympic Games.
The Nudity Controversy: The nudity was intended as a tribute to the Games of Antiquity (ancient Greece). However, it was considered highly provocative and "daring" at the time.
Censorship: Because of the nudity, the poster was banned or confiscated in several places, including 266 locations abroad and specifically in China. To mitigate the controversy, Hjortzberg added strategically placed ribbons (streamers) to the final version to preserve the athletes' modesty.
Historical Context
Date: June 29 – July 22, 1912.
The "Sunshine Olympics": The 1912 Games are remembered by this nickname due to the consistently beautiful weather and the peaceful social atmosphere of the era.
Distribution: Despite the controversy, approximately 80,000 copies were printed in 16 different languages and distributed to 30 countries. |
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