Und Ihr? [And You?]

Depicts an airman with a wounded arm. The German airman is wearing flying jacket, helmet and goggles standing next to the rear cockpit of a two seater aircraft. The propoganda poster seeks subscribers for war loans.
Fritz Erler (1868-1940) was a German painter, graphic designer and scenic designer. Although most talented as an interior designer, he is perhaps best remembered for several propaganda posters he produced during the First World War. 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.