Painting, Graphic Arts, Open

After no medals were awarded in 1936, the graphic arts event was held for the fourth and last time. Winner was Albert Decaris, a well-known graphic artist in France, where he designed stamps and illustrated art books among others. His wood engraving on copper “Swimming Pool” was given first prize. The artist ranking second, John Copley is the oldest ever Olympic medallist at 73, outranking Oscar Swahn by a year. He competed along with his wife Ethel Gabain, with whom he had a son Peter, who became a stage and television actor. Third prize winner Walter Battiss is considered to be one of the most important abstract artists from South Africa. He is best known for his imaginary and utopian “island” Fook Island, for which he even carried a driver’s license and passport.