Commercial painting and drawing competitions have been very popular in Switzerland since the early 20th century, both among the organizers and the actively participating children and adolescents. What social context gave rise to such competitions, how were they conducted, and how were they received by the drawing children? To what extent do competition drawings reflect historical events and social processes, as well as artistic traditions and the evolving methods of school drawing? The author takes a journey through the visual history of the 20th century using images from Swiss drawing competitions. Drawings from the Globi artist albums, competitions organized by Swiss companies such as SBB or Coop, the Pestalozzi student calendar, and other sources showcase the creative engagement of children and adolescents with contemporary developments.