Munich 1972 - Basket

An original sports poster from the 1972 Munich Olympics series, dedicated to basketball, illustrated by Max Muhlberger. The Munich Games of 1972 occupy a unique place in Olympic history, both for their ambitious visual programme and for the tragic events that marked them. Under the art direction of Otl Aicher — one of the great figures of 20th-century German graphic design — the Munich Olympics produced what is widely considered the most visually cohesive identity in Games history, encompassing pictograms, typography, colour systems, and a complete poster programme.

The 1972 Munich Olympics were exceptional in commissioning two distinct series of posters: sports posters, of which this basketball edition is part, and a celebrated series of art posters featuring works by contemporary artists including David Hockney, Josef Albers, and Tom Wesselmann. A small number of large-format bus stop posters were also produced, making original editions particularly sought after.

Muhlberger's sports posters are characterised by dynamic, stylised depictions of athletes in action, rendered with the bold graphic confidence and chromatic clarity that defines the Munich visual identity. This basketball poster is a compelling example: immediate, energetic, and unmistakably of its era.

This piece is sold unframed, carefully rolled and shipped in a rigid tube to ensure it arrives in pristine condition.