“Man and Sunlight” is English title of Hans Surén’s book “Der Mensch und die Sonne”, published in 1924; one of many celebrating the German obsession with physical purity and hygiene, nude gymnastics and sun bathing. Surén advocated that men (and women as their mates) dedicate their lives to physical development. Nude gymnastics, he asserted, strengthens male morality and manly self control.
Ludwig Hohlwein painted the cover to represent the ideal German physique. Hohlwein’s posters and illustrations defined physical ideals later adopted by the Nazis (he was an early member of the party), which employed his talents as its leading visual propagandist. The combination of the perfect physical form and the perfect idealist was a fitting testament. His imagery was so persuasive it triggered a trend in sun worship. His signature was so iconic that he only needed a few lines to convey his name.
