Many artists are drawn to skiing for its blend of danger and beauty, the sense of freedom and spiritual connection it offers, and the dynamic and exhilarating movement it provides, which they express through various art like painting, illustration, design and sculpture.
One of the great modern examples is the Japanese print artist Osamu Sugiyama (1946 - ) whose work is however not covered here, but rather in a special volume by the authors with the title Osamu Sugiyama Mountains. The art in the present book is older and mainly European.
Especially artists from the Alps and the Nordic countries feature here, but also examples from the hunting and military use of skiing.
Historical data shows skiing as a sport was growing strongly, with estimates indicating that at least 18,000 British tourists visited the Alps for winter sports in 1912, but it was not until after the first Winter Olympics in 1924 that skiing's popularity truly began to boom.
Now, approximately 350 million people worldwide visit ski resorts each year, though this number can fluctuate. Other estimates suggest around 150 million people actively ski, while another source cites 200 million total participants.
