DADA

   Hannah Hoch was born in Gotha, Germany. She studied arts in Berlin and work as a pattern and textile designer from the 1916-1926. From, 1915 to 1922 Hannah Hoch established an affair with Raoul Hausman which eventually lead to an artistic partnership. Hoch’s relationship with Hausman bridged her to become part of the Berlin Club Dada, which involved artistic movements that sort to destroy the oppressive power of the German bourgeoisies. She transitioned to accomplish women emancipation through a technique known as photomontage. She dared to defile the idealized woman of being passive to a renowned independent and stabilized individual. Through her works she showed that there was clear distinction between the women in the media and those in reality. She aimed at demonizing the bourgeoisies influence on media as surreal. The motif of her art work was centered on the viewers using their imaginations in unity with real life situation to see the underlying distortion in gender equality.On the concept of Nihilism, Since, the mass media was a highly centered focus of the mass population Hoch intentionally used the depictions of women in magazine as a vice to strengthen her art work.  

Title:Hannah Hoch, Grotesque, 1963

Hannah Hoch use of photomontage techniques of cut out pieces to communicates her views on social and politics been built on the exploitation of women. She used her art work to alter the representation of gender roles in society.  She redefined the exploitation of women that fascinated the German press to showcase the power of what the new age of women (women of independence). The two cut out heads placed on two innocent girls’ legs creates an emotion filled with anxiety and disgust. The woman face has a beautiful eye with a red luscious lip while the man’s is old with two big lusting eyes’ both images are placed upon the girl’s thin legs. Thus, giving its viewers a provocative insight on a idealized perception of women in society

Hannah Hoch, Bouquet Of Eyes, 1930

Hochs’ through this art work engages the viewer to question each pair of eye in correlation to the other. Hoch uses this art to illustrate the frustration in dealing with gender as either a representation of self or other. It is hard to distinguish between the object and subject; which allows for men and women to be equal through the eye. This art sort of creates the illusion that the eye is the mirror of the soul and from this comes the representation of the future. This art work also shows a time when there is a shift of imperialism to capitalism which leads to the industrial age. During, this time there was renowned definition of women roles and rights in society.

Hannah Hoch, Dada Panorama. 1919

Hannah Hoch work was mostly recognized during Weimar period, also known as the “bathing suit affair”. The first president of the Weimar republic was Friedrich Ebert. Ebert collaborated with the Minister Gustar Noske who was responsible for the death of Rosa Luxembung and Karl Liebknecht. The first act of the Eberts’ decision was to sign the armistice with the allies which would end World War I. This introduced the term “November criminals” where the Weimar republic managed to seize power while betraying the nation.  Both Ebert and Noske are shown wearing bathing suit with fig leaves which shows their disloyalty to the nation. The art work goes further in celebrating the murder of Luxemburg and Liebknecht. The art work generally creates an illusion to its viewers that the World War I was a meaningless battle that amounted to chaos.