1st International Skiing Day and Contest in Zakopane

Mariusz Zaruski (1867–1941), a mountaineer, sailor, writer, poet and painter, Polish Army general. Studied in the School of Fine Arts in Odessa, the Maritime College in Arkhangelsk, and after coming back to the Polish homeland – at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow. He was a pioneer of skiing in the Polish Tatra mountains. Author of tourist guides and skiing manuals (which he illustrated himself). In 1909, he founded the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue Service [Polish: Tatrzańskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe], over which he presided until 1914. He was also an amateur of sailing – co-founder of the Polish Yacht Club and captain of Zawisza Czarny sailing-ship owned by the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association.

The poster announces the first skiing contest, held in Zakopane in March1910. Two contestants from Vienna were participating, thus the international status of the event. In the most important competition – the Tatra run – Mariusz Zaruski participated himself, taking third place.

The poster's dynamic layout is based on a representation of a skier running after a Tatra chamois, holding a bamboo stick in his hand (the so called "alpenstock"). The movement is emphasized by a diagonal scene presentation, as well as a fast line of the drawing. The cold blue mobilizes the observer's attention, one can feel the fresh mountain climate and tension intensified by adrenaline rush.