The Photomontages of Hannah Hoch

The Photomontages of Hannah Hoch by Carolyn Lanchner. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780935640533.

An important pioneer of the artform that became known as photomontage. Hoch (November 1, 1889 – May 31, 1978) was a German Dada artist. She is best known for her work of the Weimar period, when she was one of the originators of photomontage. Höch was the lone woman among the Berlin Dada group, however she was dismayed to the Dadaists lip service to womens emancipation and her work echos her feelings that there were difference between women in media and reality. Marriage did not escape her criticism—she depicted brides as mannequins and children, reflecting the idea that women are not seen as complete people and have little control over their lives. A long-time German resident, her work fell out of favor after WWII although she continued to produce her photomontages and exhibit them internationally until her death in 1978. The Berlin Dadaists - the "monteurs" (mechanics) - would use scissors and glue rather than paintbrushes and paints to express their views of modern life through images presented by the media. A variation on the collage technique, photomontage utilized actual or reproductions of real photographs printed in the press.