Photomontage

Photomontage is produced by manipulating two or more images from separate sources and combine negatives and positives in order to create a new image. Although this type of art started around world war one by the Dadaists, the use of photo manipulation was already being introduced in the 19^th century when photography was invented.

Dadists rejected the widespread attitude of patriotism and sacrifice. They could not tolerate the horrors of war, society`s faith in technological development and how text and images could be manipulated in such a way that innocent people were persuaded to believe lies and act irrationally. Artists rebelled with their art, and people like John Heartfield used photomontage to do so.  Heartfield`s work used this type of art in order to directly attack the Nazi party using symbols or quotes

directly taken from the Nazi`s. An instance of this, is his
work ‘Millions stand behind me’ which was a phrase used by Hitler himself. Hitler wanted to state that he has the support of the public, however Heartfield used the

'Millions stand behind me' John Heartfield

same slogan in order to criticize his reliance on wealthy contributors in order to achieve electoral success. Furthermore it communicates to the viewer that politics runs on money. In his work, the artist eliminated any extra details that could have been a hindrance to the message, which makes the poster even more effective and powerful. Moreover, he uses limited colours, sans serif typography and dynamic diagonals. Heartfield`s aim was therefore to raise public consciousness and promote social change. Contrary to Heartfield, artists such as El Lissitzky and Aleksandr Rodchenko made the use of photomontage in order to emphasize and promote commitment to Communist plans and accomplishments.

'Cut with the kitchen knife through the last

Weimar beer-belly Cultural Epoch in Germany'

Another important person who used photomontage was Hannah Hoch. Hoch first used photomontage in order to attack the failings of the Weimar republic in Germany. Later on however, her work focused more on gender inequality. She was very much inspired from the collages of the cubist Pablo Picasso and Dadaist Kurt Schwitters. Perhaps the most popular work by Hoch is ‘Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer- Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany’. This photomontage is a heavily populated poster which features various political figures, photos of machines as well as typography taken from newspapers, magazines etc. Hoch makes use of both serif and san serif typography whilst the composition is

organized into sections. The kitchen knife represents the stereotypical ideas of women in society. Pictures of women also feature in this photomontage, whilst on the right hand lower corner the artist put a map of the countries where women had achieved the right the vote. Next the map, Hoch put a self portrait as a signature.  Other photomontages by Hoch include ‘portly German politicians in their swimsuits floundering against a backdrop of fine embroidery’ and 'Flucht' (Flight).

Photomontage is still sometimes used in political or satirical contexts among others however, artists today use Photoshop which facilitates and quickens the process. Contemporary artists such Adrian Brannan, Peter Kennard and Yutaka Inagawa use this kind of art in their work.

Adrian Brannan

Yutaka Inagawa

           

                    

Peter Kennard

       

Reference:

Hannah Höch | Artworks, Artist Biography | Artsy. 2014. Hannah Höch | Artworks, Artist Biography | Artsy. [ONLINE] Available at:https://artsy.net/artist/hannah-hoch. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

A Short History of Photo-montage I: 1822-1945 | Disphotic. 2014. A Short History of Photo-montage I: 1822-1945 | Disphotic. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.disphotic.lewisbush.com/2011/01/21/a-short-history-of-photomontage-i-1822-1945/. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

John Heartfield: The Meaning of the Hitler Salute. 2014. John Heartfield: The Meaning of the Hitler Salute. [ONLINE] Available at:https://suite.io/zuzana-minarikova/40p82tk. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

A Short History of Photo-montage I: 1822-1945 | Disphotic. 2014. A Short History of Photo-montage I: 1822-1945 | Disphotic. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.disphotic.lewisbush.com/2011/01/21/a-short-history-of-photomontage-i-1822-1945/. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

MoMA | The Collection | Photomontage. 2014. MoMA | The Collection | Photomontage. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.moma.org/collection/theme.php?theme_id=10158. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

MoMA | Hannah Höch. Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany (Schnitt mit dem Küchenmesser durch die letzte Weimarer Bierbauchkulturepoche Deutschlands)]. 1919-1920. 2014. MoMA | Hannah Höch. Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany (Schnitt mit dem Küchenmesser durch die letzte Weimarer Bierbauchkulturepoche Deutschlands)]. 1919-1920. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/29/704. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

MAT 200A 2011. 2014. MAT 200A 2011. [ONLINE] Available at:http://cargocollective.com/mat200a/Photomontage-A-Collection. [Accessed 25 October 2014].

Steven Heller, 2012. 100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design. 3.3.2012 Edition. Laurence King Publishing.

Philip B. Meggs, 2011. Meggs' History of Graphic Design. 5 Edition. Wiley.