Wintersportsplatz Davos 1907 Speed Skating Poster
The Davos Speed Skating poster is a great looking piece of art. It was produced by Swiss artist Walther Koch to promote the forthcoming 1907 International Ice Race. The two-day event took place on 26 and 27 January 1907 on Europe’s largest natural ice rink, the Eisstadion in Davos, Switzerland.
According to the poster, the races were open to international competitors. In reality, it was mainly athletes from the Nordic countries that entered.
The poster was created by the renowned poster artist Walter Koch and features an illustration of a speed skater racing around the course on the ice, with the Swiss Alps and the Davos sports pavillion in the background. The text reads: DavosGraubunden Schweiz. International Ice Race 26/27 Januar 1907. Herrliche Skilaufenbiete (A Magnificent Skiing spectacle) 12-14 Januar 1907. III Great ski race in Switzerland
Davos Ice Skating poster artist – Walther Koch
Koch was born in Germany in 1875 and went to the School of Applied Arts in Hamburg. In 1898, Koch moved to Davos for health reasons. Davos, then a small town in the canton of Graubünden Switzerland in the Swiss Alps was known more as a mountain health resort than a skiing destination. It is during his time at Davos, that Koch built himself a good reputation as a landscape painter and poster artist.
Many of his poster designs feature athletes taking part in early winter sports activities such as skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. Around this time downhill skiing was still pretty much in its infancy, only taken on by the bravest (or maddest) sports enthusiasts. Koch’s poster designs were often accompanied by beautiful hand-lettered typography and decorative borders.
Many of his most memorable and dynamic designs feature athletes participating in winter sports such as skiing, skating and sledding. Amongst his best-known posters is his III Grosses Ski Rennen der Schweiz, featuring a cross-country skier, to promote the third
Big Ski Race of Switzerland in 1907. Koch’s Davos
Schlittelbahn Schatzalp Poster featuring a four man bobleigh team is also very popular.
Although perhaps not as prolific a poster artist as some of his contemporaries, Koch is responsible for some of the most popular and sought-after skiing posters of his era. Several of which command figures of up to £10,000 when they come up at auction.
This poster is a must-have for any fan of the speed skating sport. So get your skates on! buy the poster today, it’ll look great on your living room wall!
Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.
The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £15. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.
