As the photographic medium flourished in early 20th Century Europe, artistic expression was the main concern. But, with the advent of the Dadaist movement, new forms of the photographic medium emerged. It was these innovative forms of photography that allowed not only the artistic merits, but also an alternate agenda of the artist to shine through. One of the most explicit examples of this form of photography was done by John Heartfield. Through his photomontages, which were merely a combination images on film in the darkroom, Heartfield was able to create great works of art and disperse not only his political agenda, but also the political agenda of many working class citizens of Central Europe, to a mass audience. Three of his politically motivated photomontages will be analyzed: How One Wages War With a Scissors, The Tiger Montage, and Adolf the Superman. First, in order to understand the basis of his political agenda and his artwork, it will be necessary to look at his life before getting involved in art and politics.Born Helmut Herzfeld on June 19, 1891 in Berlin. His father was a writer and his mother was a laborer. His parents had met at meeting of strikers, at which his mother spoke. In 1895, his father published a poem denouncing the German government. Due to this poem, his father was sentenced to one-year imprisonment on charges of blasphemy. In order to avoid his imprisonment, the Herzfelds first fled to Switzerland, but were rejected. Finally, the family settled in the Austrian Alps. It was here that Herzfeld's parents abandoned him and his brother, Wieland, without a trace. Helmut and his brother were then taken in and raised by the mayor of their Alpine village (Brecht, 10).In Austria, Herzfeld apprenticed as a bookseller, but ultimately decided to become a painter. Attempting to follow his dream of becoming a painter, Herzfeld went to study at the Munich School of Design. It was during these years that he ...
