Vintage Poster Archives
Stockholm 1956 Equestrian Olympics | Sjösvärd Sport Poster
Stockholm 1956 Equestrian Olympics | Sjösvärd Sport Poster
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A terracotta-brown horse rears against a pale marbled ground, its rider erect in a short draped cloak, posed in the manner of a Parthenon frieze figure. Below, a deep navy band carries the event text in cream Roman serif capitals: 'Equestrian Games of the XVIth Olympiad, 1956, Stockholm, 10th–17th June.' The five Olympic rings in full colour sit between the date numerals.
Designed by Stockholm painter and graphic artist John Sjösvärd (1890–1958) as the official poster for the 1956 Equestrian Olympic Games, printed by Esselte, Stockholm. Sjösvärd based the composition on Parthenon frieze sculpture, drawing a deliberate line from the ancient Greek origins of equestrian competition to the 1956 Games. The reason Stockholm hosted these events is a singular moment in Olympic history: Australia's six-month quarantine regulations on horses prevented the equestrian disciplines from being staged in Melbourne, where the main XVIth Olympiad was held in November 1956. The IOC selected Stockholm as the alternate venue in 1954, and 158 athletes from 29 nations competed in dressage, eventing and show jumping at Stockholm Olympic Stadium from 10 to 17 June, making this the only Olympiad staged across two continents in a single year.
Reproduced as an archival print on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Fine Art Paper using pigment-based inks. The warm terracotta palette and classical figurative style make it equally at home in a study or alongside mid-century Scandinavian design pieces.
