Sulamith Wülfing (January 11, 1901 – 1989) was a German artist and illustrator. The author Michael Folz explains that Wülfing’s art was a “realistic reflection of the world she lives in: she has seen the angels and elfin creatures of her paintings throughout her life.
The mood of Wülfing’s work ranges from serene to wistful to deeply melancholic. The subject is often mysterious, with narrative elements at whose meaning the observer can only guess—exactly as the artist intended. In her own words:
“To people attuned to my compositions, they may well be mirrors of their own experiences. It is because of this that I have left the explanation of the drawings completely to the viewer, so that they are not bound by my interpretation of what each picture should be.”
Characteristic Wülfing paintings feature slender, fair-haired, fay young women and men, with large eyes and sad or thoughtful faces, wearing elaborately patterned gowns or robes, and sometimes veils, snoods, wreaths, or jeweled crowns. These maidens are placed in outdoor settings of twilight woods and moonlit meadows, or in castle-like interiors with vaguely Gothic detail (stone arches, stained glass windows, carved throne-like chairs). Some of the patterns on the clothing and furniture resemble Norse and Celtic knotwork.
The illustrations are from the book Das Tor (The Gate, A Story of Life vol. 3), First edition, published by Wuppertal-Elberfeld, 1931. Illustrated by Sulamith Wulfing, with 12 dual-tone plates. Enjoy these wonderful illustrations !
Art Gallery: Sulamith Wulfing – Das Tor vol. 3, 1931
