"Metamorphose." by John Heartfield
Description:
Artist John Heartfield created this satirical photomontage, showing the metamorphosis from President Friedrich Ebert (caterpillar) to Paul von Hindenburg (pupa) to Adolph Hitler (butterfly).
About John Heartfield:
Born Helmut Herzfelde, he changed his name to John Heartfield to protest the strong anti-English hostility that was in evidence in Germany during World War I. He and his brother Wieland Herzfelde became part of the DADA movement to protest the war, and what they felt were the absurdities of modern life and the injustices and inequalities of German society and government. A painter and graphic designer, John Heartfield was critical of what he considered the Weimar government’s insufficient commitment to reform. He was an early and ferocious enemy of Hitler and the Nazi movement. His widely circulated anti-Hitler posters made him a target of the Nazis and he fled from Germany when they took power in January of 1933.
Related Resources from Facing History:
- FACING HISTORY CAMPUS -- Analyzing Visual Images. This teaching strategy document created by a Facing History and Ourselves program associate is a helpful tool for bringing art into your classroom.
Image Credit: © 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.