Today we decided to talk about a very inspiring German artist, Hannah Höch. One of the few women of the Dada movement, she specialized in collage and photomontage.
But, what is the Dada movement? Born at the end of the First World War, this intellectual, literary and artistic movement is characterized by a reconsideration of all ideological, aesthetic and political conventions and constraints.
Hannah was strongly involved in the Dada adventure. In Berlin, she participated in many protests and was engaged in the question of the “new woman”. Through her artistic work, Hannah shows her desire to re-establish the male/female relationship on an egalitarian basis. Her works shock and create controversy.
Hannah Höch grew up in a middle-class environment. At the age of 15, she left high school to take care of her younger sister. Six years later, she returned to school and joined the School of Applied Arts in Berlin. It was there that her passion for art and drawing began to take shape.
In 1915, she met Raoul Haussman who changed her life. In contact with this multi-talented artist, Hannah learns about collage and photomontage. She started to practice on postcards sent by soldiers from the front to their families. This practice will gradually become a tool of social and political criticism.
Hannah Höch creates collages of patterns. She recycles fabric patterns, pieces of colored linoleum, sewing patterns, lace scraps in order to create abstract compositions with delicacy and humor.
Some of her collages parodying masculinity offend the public. Her photomontages express his wish to re-establish gender equality.
“I have remained faithful to photomontage and collage. To this day, I have tried to express, with these techniques, my thoughts, my criticisms, my sarcasms but also unhappiness and beauty.”
At Rosamen Bado, we love the collage process! Hannah Höch infuses an irresistible humoristic approach in her work. In spite of a hostile atmosphere, due to the historical context and the social ethics of the society at that time, this artist fought hard to practice her passion according to her rules.
We admire her for her values, her ideas, her style and her work!
Collages are for us a source of creativity and freedom. Echoing Hannah’s work, we want to show women who dare to play with their own rules.
We also like :
Barbara Kruger : American artist
Flore Kunst : French artist
Eugenia Loli : Californian artist
Sarah Eisenlohr : American artist
Some Rosamen Bado collages
