Art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Medals were awarded in five categories (architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
), for works inspired by sport-related themes.
The art exhibition was held at the Stedelijk Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Founded in 1874, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for classic modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It has been housed on the Paulus Potterstraat, next to Museum Square Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw, in Amsterdam Zuid...
from 12 June to 12 August, and displayed 1150 works of art from 18 different countries. Additionally, the literature competition attracted 40 entries from 10 countries, and the music competition had 22 entries from 9 countries.
The art competitions at the 1928 Games
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
was larger in scope than for previous Games. Instead of a single competition in each of the five artistic categories, awards were presented in multiple subcategories. The judges of the music competition declined to award any medals in two of the three subcategories, and only presented a single bronze medal in the third.
Art competitions
Art competitions at the Olympic Games
Art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years, from 1912 to 1952. The competitions were part of the original intention of the Olympic Movement's founder, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin...
were part of the Olympic program from 1912 to 1948.
At a meeting of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
in 1949, it was decided to hold art exhibitions instead, as it was judged illogical to permit professionals to compete in the art competitions but only amateurs were permitted to compete in sporting events. Since 1952, a non-competitive art and cultural festival has been associated with each Games.
Architecture
| Architectural design | Olympic Stadium at Amsterdam |
Swimming pool at Ollerup |
Stadium at Versailles |
| Town planning | Stadium at Nuremberg |
Stadium at Versailles |
Municipal Park at Hamburg |
Literature
| Lyric works | "Laur Olimpijski" |
"Reitvorschrift für eine Geliebte" |
"Symphonia Heroica" |
| Dramatic works | none awarded | "Icarus" |
none awarded |
| Epic works | "L'histoire des Jeux Olympiques" |
"Boetius von Orlamünde" |
"De Nar uit de Maremmen" |
Music
| Song | none awarded | none awarded | none awarded |
| One instrument | none awarded | none awarded | none awarded |
| Orchestra | none awarded | none awarded | "Symphony No. 2 Hellas" |
Painting
| Paintings | "Cavalier Rouge" |
"Boxeurs" |
"Patinage" |
| Drawings | "Rugby" |
"Gestes de Football" |
Posters |
| Graphic works | "Un Almanach de douze Sports" |
Posters |
"Mailcoach" |
Sculpture
| Statues | "Boxeur" |
"Athlète au repos" |
"Footballeur" |
| Reliefs and medallions | Médailles |
Médaille pour les Jeux Olympiques |
Plaquette |
Medal table
At the time, medals were awarded to these artists, but art competitions are no longer regarded as official Olympic events by the International Olympic Committee. These events do not appear in the IOC medal database, and these totals are not included in the IOC's medal table for the 1928 Games.| 1 |  Netherlands |
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 |  Germany |
1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 |  France |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | align=left | |1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 |  Poland |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 |  Austria |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Hungary |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Luxembourg |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 |  Switzerland |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 |  Denmark |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 |  Italy |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |