Shepherd with his dog.

Was wir selbst tun können, das dürfen wir Gott nicht überlassen

Gorch Fock

(Whatever we do, we can not leave God)

Wer seinem Volke so die Treue hielt,
soll selbst in Treue nie vergessen sein

Adolf Hilter

Whoever remained loyal to his people, 

they will never truly be forgotten.

rough translation

Scan of Sluytermans work from a National Socialist publication called 'Kunst Dem Volk' - a popluar magazine that promoted Aryan art.

(above and below) two posters of German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. The first seems somewhat darker than the revised second poster. The woodcut of the face is from the same original piece, only the layout and design in new.

Wer leben will / der kämpfe also/ und wer
nicht streiten will in dieser Welt des ewi =
gen Ringens  / verdient das Leben nicht +

From Mein Kampf.

Those who want to live, let them fight, and those
who do not want to fight in this world
of eternal struggle do not deserve to live.

A man glazes at the moon, across a muddy track from a chair at his wattle and dab home.

The signature is pencil, unlike many woodcut prints were he carves it into the picture.

Painting by Sluyterman of hanged game (hare and jay).

Goldne Abendsonne / wie bist du so Schön,

nie kann ohne Wonne deinen Glanz ich sehn.

Golden evening sun / how you're so beautiful,

never would I see without your blissful shine.

A German girl watches the sunset. The portrait is Sluytermans usual side view,  however there's a lack of the detail in the girls face, as compared to his other works. The song was a popular Wandervogel song, which (reworded) became a S.A marching song. 

Goldne Abendsonne

wie bist du so schön

Nie kann ohne Wonne

deinen Glanz ich sehn.

Schon in früher Jugend

sah ich gern nach dir

Und der Trieb zur Tugend

Glühte mehr in mir

Wenn ich so am Abend

Staunend vor dir stand,

Und an dir mich labend,

Gottes Huld empfand

Doch vor dir, o Sonne,

Wend ich meinen Blick

Mit noch höh´rer Wonne

Auf mich selbst zurück

Schuf uns ja doch beide

eines Schöpfers Hand

dich im Strahlenkleide

mich im Staubgewand

Du wirst einst verglühen

doch zu ew´gem Sein

soll ich aufwärts ziehen

in den Himmel ein

study of the pencil sketch of Hermann Löns by Sluytermman

. "Es gibt keinen Aufstieg, der nicht beginnt bei der Wurzel des nationalen, völkischen und wirtschaftlichen Lebens, beim Bauern... "

 "There is no ascent, which does not start at the root of national, ethnic and economic life, the farmer ..."

quote by Hitler in support of Germany's farmers.

In das ew´e Dunkel niedersteigt der Knappe,

der Gebieter einer unterird´schen Welt

(Carl) Theodor Körner 1813

In the eternal darkness descends the squire,
The ruler of a subterranean world

A highly detailed woodcut. A gardener stakes a fruit tree, in the background his house with the Germanic 'Hengest and Hors' crossed horse head gables. The detail is so fine you can even pick out what vegetables he grows!

Another woodcut with classic Sluyterman traits - A side view of the face, with high cheek bones.

One of my favourite pieces. I look at this work and feel the winter chill!

painting by Sluyterman

 Rast in der Heide  (Rest in the Heath)

Sluyterman was known for his woodcuts - however as you can see from this superb piece he was a skilled painter too. Like many of his other works, the portrait shows a side view of the face - a common trait amongst his art.

Like Hermann Löns, Sluyterman was a man of the Hiede.

'Sieg oder Unsieg ruht in Gottes Hand / Der Ehre
sind wir selber Herr und König!

Victory or Defeat rests in Gods Hand / Of Honour
 we are Lord and King!

War memorial in the village of St. Jakob in Defereggen, built in 1927. The same quote can be found  on one of the bronze plaques.

One of Sluytermans most familiar pieces.  Often the swastika on the Lancers shield is printed with a three armed triskilion - however the original art depicted the swastika, as above.

Menhir

Besitz stirbt, Sippen sterben,
du selbst stirbst wie sie. 
eins nur weiß ich /  das ewig lebt:
der Toten Tatenruhm.

aus der Edda

Cattle die, kinsmen die, 
And so one dies oneself; 
One thing now that never dies:
The fame of a dead man's deeds.

from the Edda

Hilf dir selbst dann hilft dir auch unser herre Gott!

Help yourself and God will help you.
(Folk Saying / proverb)

This excellent woodcut by Sluyterman (1936) shows another Peasant Revolt farmer - armed with a mace. The Wolfsangel was a symbol that Hermann Löns made popular in his classic novel 'The Warwolf'. 

Hermann Löns pencil sketch by Slutyerman

Der Wehrwolf novel with Wolf-hook

During the Second World War, the allies used some of Sluytermans art in their own propaganda campaign against the German people. This one such leaflet that the RAF littered Germany with. The first two lines read -

Die deutsch fuhrung hilft dir nicht. man sagt euch es fehle am rechten kampfgeist.

The German leadership does not help you.They say you lacked the right fighting spirit.

 link to further reading (Italian site)

This woodcut is of a Landknecht soldier - originally a name used for Swabian soldiers. These soldiers wore colourful uniforms and became mercenary soldiers with a formidable reputation. The term Landser (German soldier) derives from Landsknect. Heinrich Himmler often used the name Landknecht in his personal letters.

Leaning over the fence is an image of death -  a reference to the conditions of Europe at the time, mass starvation, feudal laws and peasant war. The soldier walks past but looks the other way. On the wall a small plaque with Georg Sluyterman's initials.  

The quotation is by Ulrich von Hutton (21 April 1488 – 29 August 1523) - 

Frei will ich bleiben
und achte den Tod nicht. 

I want to stay free
pay no attention to the death

Peasant woodcut.

In this piece, Sluyterman carves the image of a German Peasant, from around 1525. The peasant holds the Bundschuh banner of the peasant armies, and gives the Peasant salute with his right hand.

The quotation is from a poem by Gottfried August Bürger - and translates into English as' Who can not die for Freedom,   deserves (is worth) to be in chains'.

Gottfried August Bürger