Olympic Games Munich 1972 (Olympische Spiele München 1972)

Currently not on view

Olympic Games Munich 1972 (Olympische Spiele München 1972)

1971-1972

Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000)

Jacob Lawrence was one of a number of artists who were invited to design posters for the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany. He created this image to commemorate the involvement of black athletes in the Olympic games, as track was an area in which these athletes had traditionally excelled. This subject had a particular historical resonance because African American hero Jesse Owens won a record four gold medals in track at the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, where Hitler had planned to prove the superiority of the German "Aryan" people.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Olympic Games Munich 1972 (Olympische Spiele München 1972)

Date:

1971-1972

Artist:

Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000)

Medium:

Color screenprint (poster)

Dimensions:

Image: 34 3/8 x 25 3/16 inches (87.3 x 64 cm) Sheet: 40 x 25 3/16 inches (101.6 x 64 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

Gift of Marla K. Shoemaker, 2002

Accession Number:

2002-60-1

Geography:

Printed in Munich, Germany, Europe

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Currently not on view