Heartfield Response - PK

John Heartfield is an interesting artist, in that he was not afraid to go against the Nazi party and Hitler. Living in Germany while everything was happening and still managing to voice your stance is not an easy choice to live with. The fact that he moved so much and still managed to create more works is really tremendous.

His work on Hitler and the Nazi party is really powerful. He uses symbols and images we all are familiar with and send a message that is very clear. His “Blood and Iron” for example is unmistakable. Hatched ordered in a shape of a swastika with blood dripping off of them, not only is it very clever, it is so clear in the meaning it portrays. I am amazed that he managed to escape and not get killed himself because of the work he was doing and the message he tried to spread.

His photomontage and advertising work is very interesting. He is able to take separate, incoherent images and make them into a coherent whole. The “Die Arena” is interesting in that it combines a dancing woman’s legs with music notes, a saxophone and words and still manages to look like it all belongs. It creates a theme of music and enjoyment.

Overall, Heartfield had a pretty busy life, creating work that sticks with you and manages to tell his stance on political and world issues. The image I chose was by Heartfield, and it shows how a Nazi soldier is making a swastika out of Jesus’ cross. The message here is everything but positive, and very thought provoking.