Der 9te Pfeil [The ninth arrow]

Poster depicting an archer with bow drawn and arrow about to be fired. The poster seeks subscribers to the ninth German war loan. The poster title translates as; 'The 9th Arrow: Subscribe to the War Loan'.

Fritz Erler (1868-1940) was a German painter, graphic designer and scenic designer. His paintings were commissioned as war propaganda. Erler studied at Breslau and Paris before travelling to Italy and Germany. He settled in Germany where he founded the magazine 'Die Jugend'. During the First World War Erler produced several notable posters for the German government and was an official military painter for the 'Oberste Heeresleitung' [Supreme Army Command]. He was fascinated by Norse legends, Grimms' fairy tales and Johann Gottfried Herder's 'Stimmen der Völker' , all of which had an impact on his subject-matter. In a long, prolific career he designed costumes and stage sets, stained glass, ceramics and book bindings. His work has a monumental decorative style, often using German folk tales or other allegories. Erler did not serve during the First World War but did many drawings and paintings of soldiers at the front. After the war, Erler was commissioned to produce several murals on public buildings.