08-09-2021 - Museum de Fundatie acquires Dada-merica (1919) by George Grosz & John Heartfield
Museum de Fundatie, with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt (thanks in part to its Modern Art Theme Fund and its Van Beekhof Fund) and the Friends Lottery, has acquired the work Dada-America by George Grosz and John Heartfield. This is an early photomontage from 1919, from the private possession of artist Paul Citroen.
The work almost literally depicts Europe torn apart after World War I and the deep yearning for a new world. On the reverse is a greeting from George Grosz addressed to his Dada companion Paul Citroen - Herrn Citron, In herzlicher Widmung, George Grosz - and the newspaper headline Dada Siegt. Dada-merika has been reproduced endlessly, but this photograph is unique and probably the only original.
Dada-merika is one of the very few surviving Dada collages and enjoys world fame among Dada connoisseurs. The fact that this is an original print with a personal dedication by Grosz on the reverse makes the work exceptional. Dada-merika is therefore an important addition to the international interwar collection of Museum de Fundatie, and connects with other works by George Grosz, John Heartfield, Paul Citroen and Otto Dix, which are also in the Fundatie Collection.
Dada-merika is on display from now on in the new presentation of the Fundatie Collection, at Museum de Fundatie Zwolle.
