Katsushika Hokusai, Soccer, early 19th century, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin State Museums. Image and original data provided by Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz bpkgate.picturemaxx.com

Katsushika Hokusai, Soccer, early 19th century, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin State Museums. Image and original data provided by Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz
bpkgate.picturemaxx.com

By all accounts, Americans are becoming enthusiastic about soccer in unprecedented numbers. Rumor even has it that a handful of Artstor employees may have sneaked into a conference room yesterday to watch the US team confront Germany (though, when asked about the story, everyone seemed too busy with work to comment).

Of course, the game has long been popular around the world, as you can see from this slideshow of images ranging from the 17th to the 20th century, and from countries including Italy, France, Japan, Ghana, and yes, the United States.

West African; Ghanain, Stool with Two Legs and Spinning Soccer Ball, circa 1920 – 1930. Image and data from Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Henri Rousseau, The Football Players, 1908. Image and original data provided by ©The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York, guggenheim.org
Henri Rousseau, The Football Players, 1908. Image and original data provided by ©The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York, guggenheim.org
George Herlick, Soccer, 1937. Museum of the City of New York, mcny.org
George Herlick, Soccer, 1937. Museum of the City of New York, mcny.org
Umberto Boccioni, Dynamism of a Soccer Player, 1913. Image and original data provided by the The Museum of Modern Art, moma.org
Umberto Boccioni, Dynamism of a Soccer Player, 1913. Image and original data provided by the The Museum of Modern Art, moma.org
Jacques Callot, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, from the Capricci; Soccer Tournament in the Piazza Santa Croce), 1617, Gabinetto disegni e stampe degli Uffizi. Image and original data provided by SCALA, Florence/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.artres.com, scalarchives.com, (c) 2006, SCALA, Florence / ART RESOURCE, N.Y.
Jacques Callot, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, from the Capricci; Soccer Tournament in the Piazza Santa Croce), 1617, Gabinetto disegni e stampe degli Uffizi. Image and original data provided by SCALA, Florence/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.artres.com, scalarchives.com, (c) 2006, SCALA, Florence / ART RESOURCE, N.Y.