Cycling, 1972, by Otl Aicher

This striking poster features two fencers captured in mid-duel against a gradient blue background. Using the distinctive "posterization" technique characteristic of the Munich Olympics design, the image separates tonal qualities from photographs into blocks of colour, primarily showing the athletes in white and grey with accents of bright green. The composition depicts a moment of athletic tension, with one fencer lunging forward while the other parries the attack. The stark contrast between the white figures and the blue background creates a dramatic visual effect that emphasizes the dynamic movement of the sport. The blue background transitions from a darker blue at the top to a lighter blue at the bottom, with stylized cloud-like shapes adding visual texture. At the top of the poster appears "München 1972" in light green text along with the Olympic rings symbol and the distinctive white spiral sunburst logo that became emblematic of these Games.

This poster was part of the series of 24 posters created to advertise the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games. The design team used the official Munich Olympics colour palette and included the logo and "München 1972" text on all posters. The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held in Munich, West Germany from August 26 to September 11, 1972. The visual identity created for these Games is widely regarded as a pinnacle of graphic design, with its "colour blocking with soft secondary shades layered on top of each other with sparse text" creating a "clean and so simple and sophisticated" aesthetic that has proven to be "timeless." These sports posters were displayed throughout Munich and around Olympic venues, often hung in pairs alongside posters from famous artists such as David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj, who were also commissioned to create works for the Games. The cycling events at the 1972 Olympics included both road and track competitions, with athletes competing in individual and team events. Tragically, the Munich Olympics are also remembered for the terrorist attack on the Israeli team that occurred during the Games, resulting in the deaths of 11 Israeli team members.

Otl Aicher (1922–1991) was the lead designer of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. A key figure in postwar German graphic design, Aicher was co-founder of the influential Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm, which championed rational design rooted in function. For Munich 1972, he created a cohesive identity encompassing signage, typography, pictograms and colour systems.