Hannah Höch
Dada Artist + Master of Photomontage
“Of course, the camera is a far more objective and trustworthy witness than a human being. We know that a Brueghel or Goya or James Ensor can have visions or hallucinations, but it is generally admitted that a camera can photograph only what is actually there, standing in the real world before its lens.”
Hannah Höch (1889–1978)
Born on November 1, 1889, Hannah Höch was a German Dada artist and one of the earliest masters of photomontage.
Her work boldly critiqued the rigid social norms of her time, blending images from popular media to challenge the expectations around gender, politics, and power.
Höch was also a pioneering LGBTQ figure, known for her relationships with both men and women, including a notable romance with Dutch writer Til Brugman.
In pieces like Cut with the Kitchen Knife… (1919), Höch used wit and satire to confront the absurdities of Weimar Germany, resisting both the era's political constraints and the male-dominated art world.
Today, she’s celebrated not only for her inventive art but also for her fearless self-expression, inspiring new generations to challenge societal norms through creativity.
RECOMMENDED MEDIA
Words of Wisdom from Dada Genius Hannah Höch on her Birthday (artnet)
Hannah Hoch “Cut with the Kitchen Knife” (The Object of Art) 📺
Artist Highlight: Who was Hannah Höch? (clairobscur)
Hannah Höch (Museum of Modern Art)
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