Part of Scholz’s scathing criticism of postwar German capitalism and society extended to his views on sexuality, a topic which he was no doubt exploring both artistically and personally. During the early 1920s he produced a number of drawings and prints on sexual subjects, determined to show this important aspect of human experience in all its earthy detail.

The only erotic portfolio he appears to have produced is this series of nine colour prints, which are enigmatically signed ‘Marquis d’Aunage’. ‘Aunage’ is old French for ‘adjustment’ or ‘correction’, so one interpretation is ‘The Marquis of Correction’, which matches the sadomasochistic subject matter. In German ‘d’Aunage’ can be heard as ‘Darm-Arsch’ or ‘gut-arse’, an equally apt description. It is probable that Scholz intended both. The signature and titles in French are a common feature of erotic prints by German erotic artists of this period, a necessary precaution to avoid possible prosecution.

As well as being powerful depictions of sexual congress, these Scholz compositions show him as a master of the multicoloured print, some of them having required five plates carefully prepared and registered.

We are very grateful to Hans-Jürgen Döpp for these images; Hans-Jürgen, the compiler of many books on erotic art, curates the Venusberg online gallery and bookshop which you can find here.