Schweiz Skirennen Unterwasser | 1939

Schweiz Skirennen Unterwasser, 1939, by Martin Peikert

This 1939 poster by Martin Peikert advertises the Swiss ski races in Unterwasser. The dramatic illustration shows a skier hurtling downhill from a dynamic, high-speed perspective, with motion lines accentuating the sense of velocity. The skier, clad in blue and yellow, wears a numbered race bib and a streamlined helmet, while his ski poles trail behind him. A Swiss flag planted in the snow marks the course. The bold red text at the top reads "Schweiz. Skirennen Unterwasser," translating to "Swiss Ski Race Unterwasser," while the event’s date, "3.-5. März 1939," indicates it took place from March 3rd to 5th, 1939.

Unterwasser, located in the Toggenburg region of Switzerland, was a popular venue for ski racing in the early 20th century. The Swiss Ski Championships of 1939, which this poster promotes, were a major national event. One of the standout competitors was Karl Molitor, who won the downhill race and later became a legendary Swiss skier, earning Olympic medals in 1948.

Martin Peikert (1901–1975) was a renowned Swiss poster artist, celebrated for his striking and stylish tourism and sports posters. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva and worked as a commercial illustrator before establishing his own studio in Zug. Peikert’s designs often featured bold colours, strong compositions, and an Art Deco-influenced style that helped define Swiss graphic design in the mid-20th century.