Post World War I, the Dada movement responded as the anti-art, carrying a destructive element which included much shock, protest, and satirical nonses. Rejecting tradition and seeking freedom, Dada was originally founded as a literary movement by Hugo Ball in Switzerland. "Dadaists did not even agree on the origins of the name Dada, such was the anarchy of the movement (Meggs).
French painter Marcel Duchamp became the most prominent visual artist of the Dada movement not by creating art, but by mocking and defaming society which he felt had gone insane. He painted mustache on Mona Lisa, not to defame her but to go against traditional norms. While the art may seem absurd, Dada cultivated a culture of purposeful art: make sure any and all art is done with reason.
Dada claims to have invented photo montage with famed artists Hannah Hoch & Raoul Hausmann. German artist John Heartfield wanted to promote social change using photomontage as a propaganda weapon. He did not take photographs. He did not change images. He simply worked with the glossy prints he procured from magazines and newsprints, essentially creating a manual Adobe Photoshop craftsmanship and style. It is close to much of the graphic design we see today where pictures have been altered, mashed together, and stripped apart.
Food for thought: Considering there is current political influence surrounding attacking the press, this piece has become relevant again 90 years later and it’s craftsmanship still appears modern in silhouette. What do you think?
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