Mid-Morning Art Thread [Kris]

Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany
Hannah Höch

If any art should ever be inseparable from its historical context for meaning, it is DADA. It began in Switzerland during the height of World War I as a rebellion against the civilization that allowed the War to happen, and it must, therefore, be understood within that historical context. After the War, DADA would split into various regional schools, the most important are arguably French DADA and Berlin DADA. In France, the style would continue to be chaotic for chaos’ sake, with parts of it eventually evolving into Surrealism. In Germany however, because of the turmoil of the post-War era, DADA would become political and social critique.

Hoch’s collage seems to be a cacophony of imagery, but there is meaning underneath the madness. The work is constructed from pictures and words cut from magazines and newspapers, a technique called photomontage. Examined closely, the viewer sees that there are clusters of related images. The upper right includes pictures of politicians, the upper left seems to have a science and technology theme, and the bottom third uses images of political activism and Communist revolutionaries.

The upper right is dominated by a large portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II surrounded by Weimer Era leaders. The heading for this section is “The Anti-DADA” indicating that these figures represent everything DADA is against. A few of these figures are made to look ridiculous. For example, the Kaiser’s mustache is replaced by a stripper, and Hindenburg’s head is on the body of a belly dancer. This area also includes a soldier and machine gun. DADA’s disgust with the War and its aftermath are clear.

For me, the upper left, with its large portrait of Albert Einstein, is less clear. One of the phrases reads: “DADA is not an art trend.” This may be in response to critics of DADA, perhaps they dismiss it as “just a fad” that will pass in time. By using images of science and technology, Hoch may be saying that DADA is the future, a new modernity. It’s an ironic juxtaposition of images and ideas because while science is totally rational, DADA is a celebration of irrationality.

The bottom portion is the revolution that will overthrow the “Anti-DADA” in the upper right. The left half calls the viewer to action with the slogan “Join DADA”, while the right depicts the leaders and artists of “The Great DADA World.” In the lower left, a crowd of children holds a sign with Hoch’s initials. This both places her as a leader and role model of this new revolution, and acts as her signature for the piece. On the right, pictures of Socialist and Communist leaders mix with other German DADAists. To Hoch, Communists and Socialists are honorary members of the DADA Club. Together they will wipe away the traditional power structures and culture and replace it with their New Utopian Age.

Other political causes are also included in this work. In the extreme lower right is a map of women’s suffrage in Europe. Next to this map is a small picture of Hoch, connecting her to this cause too. Hoch was a major figure in the German Feminist movement.

This style is not for everyone. I think DADA is the most difficult of the Modernist movements to understand. Its entire stated purpose is chaos, anarchy, and barbarism, with an art that has no obvious meaning. It’s childish and ugly by design. It is completely anti-Western civilization. It’s a rebellion against everything, but like its manifesto says: “If you are against DADA, you are a DADAist.”

posted by Open Blogger at 09:30 AM

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