Shepherd with his dog.
This blog is now closed and there will be no more posts made. Sluyterman was without doubt one of our finest European artists. Please feel free to use any information from this blog.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Saturday, 22 February 2014
(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 +
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.
who do not want to fight in this world
of eternal struggle do not deserve to live.
Thursday, 20 February 2014
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
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
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!
sind wir selber Herr und König!
Victory or Defeat rests in Gods Hand / Of Honour
we are Lord and King!
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.
Hilf dir selbst dann hilft dir auch unser herre Gott!
Help yourself and God will help you.
(Folk Saying / proverb)
(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.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
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.
und achte den Tod nicht.
I want to stay free
pay no attention to the death
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
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