Spectator sport: looking at sporting crowds

When we attend a sporting event, we look forward to following the game, the match, the fight. But sometimes, turning around to watch the spectators and audience can be just as rewarding.

The emotional reactions of sports fans - their wins and losses, their successes and frustrations - can be etched on their faces, both individually and as a crowd. Similarly, spectators bring energy and support for the teams.

This blog looks at a few paintings and photographs depicting sports fans. Take a moment to explore the many faces and people in these images, and explore the fascinating world of sport fans.

Vienna, 1928

This painting of a crowded stadium is by Austrian landscape and portrait Anton Karlinsky. Dating from 1928, it was originally called 'Red card' but now bears the title Soccer match on the Hohe Warte sports field.

It depicts a match at Vienna's Hohe Warte stadium, full of spectators. It is striking that all of those that we can identify seem to be men.

The Hohe Warte stadium was opened in 1921. At the time, it could host a crowd of thousands - with 85,000 people attending a match between Austria and Italy in 1923.

Istanbul, 1934

Several hundred spectators are tightly packed into a stand at Taksim Stadium in 1934, watching a football match between Turkish teams Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in November 1930.

Taksim Stadium was the first football stadium in Istanbul. The overall attendance of this match was close to 5,000 people, although the stadium could accommodate 8,000.

They attentively follow the events taking place. The crowd is predominantly male, most of the men and women are wearing long coats and hats, or are holding hats in their hands. The playing field extends away from the stand. However, despite the fans undoubted support, the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Amsterdam, 1928

A huge crowd are watching the football final of the 1928 Olympic Games between Uruguay and Argentina.

Presumably most of the crowd are locals from the Netherlands or other European countries as undoubtedly not many Uruguaryan or Argentinian fans could travel the vast distances from south America to the Netherlands. In the run-up to the match, the Dutch Olympic organisers had received 250,000 requests for tickets from all across Europe.

Hamar, 1953

These spectators are wrapped up warm for the winter, wearing wooly hats, scarves and gloves. They are watching the 1953 European Speed Skating Championships, taking place in Hamar, Norway a town to the north of Oslo.

They may well be cheering on Norwegian skater Ivar Martinsen who took a bronze medal in the Allround championships.

The Hamar stadion, which hosted the championships, were described as 'the Mecca of speed skating' by Kees Broekman, the Dutch skater who took gold in the Allround championships.

London, 1921

The supporters of Tottenham Hotspur football club seem to have gotten hold of the FA Cup, or maybe it's just a replica. Either way, the Tottenham Hotspur team did win the FA Cup in 1921, the year this photograph was taken. These fans seem very happy, and we can probably guess why.

The Spurs team won 1-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the match which was played at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London.