Dada: Raoul Hausmann

Dada was an art movement involving several different techniques including photomontage, collage, assemblage, readymade, typography, sound poem, abstraction, chance, photography, and overpainting. Raoul Hausman was one of the influencial artists of the movement, contributing writings to antimilitaristic journals, organizing Dada events, and creating work using the above mentioned techniques.




Image on Top:
Der Kunstreporter (The Art Critic), 1919-1920, photomontage and collage with ink stamp and crayon on printed poster poem

Image on Bottom:
Ein burgerliches Pracisionsgehirn ruft eine Weltbewegung hervor (A Bourgeouis Precision Brain Incites World Movement) later known as Dada seigt (Dada Triumphs), 1920

The top piece exhibits usage of the Dada techniques of photomontage, collage, and typography. The background is made up of German characters from a printed poster poem, the middle ground is made up of cut out photos, probably obtained from media sources in Germany, and the foreground consists of a figure of a man (the art critic) that made up of photo and other added collage elements covering the man's eyes, mouth, forehead, and clothing. The textual background makes the images stand out while still forcing you to consider the text. The man is carrying a writing utensil, but from a distance may appear to be a weapon such as a spear instead. Hausmann, going along with the Dada perspective against the art establishment, is criticizing art critics in this bold representation.

The bottom peice is also an example of the usage of the photomontage and collage techniques. Each image stands out in this piece against the solid background of the walls and the floor. Hausmann created dimension in this piece by adding shadow behind each object or figure. This piece seems to include aspects of Hausmann's personal life as well as aspects of the Dada culture. For example, there are images of anatomy in this piece, both of the body and of the brain, connecting to Hausmann's past experience studying anatomy at a private art schol in Berlin. The piece also includes part of a world-map; the top part where the Dada culture was present. The background is made of watercolor on paper. While this composition is somewhat busy, it still allows the viewer to focus on each image individually because of their cut-out forms against the simple backgrounds.