DER WÄCHTER — THE GUARDIAN After Arno Breker. A figure built around vigilance. Der Wächter, The Guardian, was conceived in 1939 as part of Arno Breker’s monumental relief program for the projected transformation of Berlin. Intended for the vast architectural complex surrounding the planned north–south axis, the work belonged to the same cycle as Der Rächer, Vergeltung, Fackelträger, Opfer and Kameraden. The pose is restrained compared with Breker’s more violent compositions. The sword is held low across the body. The torso remains tense. The head turns outward, alert to something beyond the frame. Nothing has yet happened. That is precisely the point. The figure represents preparedness before action, strength held in reserve rather than already released. The cloak rises behind him while the body remains anchored below, creating a contrast between movement and control. Breker reduces the composition to a few clear elements: body, blade, shield and watchful gaze. Like the other monumental works in this cycle, Der Wächter was created within the state art of Nazi Germany. Its idealized athletic body and martial symbolism formed part of a political visual language built around discipline, vigilance and power. The work did not disappear completely with the destruction and dispersal that followed the war. Long considered lost, a monumental stone version of Der Wächter resurfaced in 2015 together with Breker’s Der Rächer and Kameraden in a warehouse in Bad Dürkheim, Germany. The recovered works were among a cache of enormous sculptures and reliefs seized during an investigation into their ownership. The original monumental relief is not ordinarily on public display today. What remains accessible to most viewers is the photographic record: the lowered sword, the turning figure, and the stillness of a body prepared to move. Carefully restored and digitally prepared from surviving photographic material to preserve depth, texture and sculptural contrast. Printed on museum-grade matte paper. This edition is exclusively offered through Thuleism. Historical note: This print presents a historical artwork in its original context. Its inclusion does not constitute endorsement of the political regime for which the work was commissioned. _________________________________________________________ Product details- Museum-grade matte paper- Archival pigment print- Thick, durable stock- Designed for framing Each piece is set within the chosen paper format rather than printed edge to edge. The surrounding margins are intentional, allowing the work to breathe and making it easier to frame using widely available standard frame sizes. Please note that the selected size refers to the overall paper size, not the dimensions of the printed image itself. The artwork is proportionally fitted within that format, with margins varying slightly depending on the original composition. _______________________________________________________________________ Age restrictions: For adultsEU Warranty: 2 yearsOther compliance information: Meets the small parts and magnetic flux index level requirements.In compliance with the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Oak inc. and SINDEN VENTURES LIMITED ensure that all consumer products offered are safe and meet EU standards. For any product safety related inquiries or concerns, please contact our EU representative at [email protected]. You can also write to us at 123 Main Street, Anytown, Country or Markou Evgenikou 11, Mesa Geitonia, 4002, Limassol, Cyprus.
