Von der Wollust und dem Laster (Of Lust and Vice) dates from Woelfle’s early years working as a caricaturist for the Süddeutsche Sonntagspost, and demonstrates his skills both as a graphic designer and as an engraver. It also shows that he was well aware of the erotic portfolio tradition firmly established by artists like Otto Schoff and Fritz Erler, and wanted to add one of his own.

While the scenes are not particularly original, the composition and etching technique are of a high quality, and he clearly enjoyed creating this self-published portfolio. In order to avoid possible censorship, each of the prints is signed ‘Dubois’, Woelfle’s chosen pseudonym for his erotic alter ego – a possible connection between the wolves implied by his German name and the forest suggested by the French nom de plume.

Von der Wollust und dem Laster was self-published ‘für die Freunde der Künstler’ (for friends of the artist), in a limited numbered edition of 100 copies.

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.