Heartfield, John

PHOTOGRAPHER, SCENERY BUILDER (GERMANY)
BORN 19 Jun 1891, Schmargendorf (near Berlin) - DIED 19 Aug 1968, London
BIRTH NAME Herzfelde, Helmut Franz Joseph
GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof, Chausseestrasse (CH-9-23 (Ehrengrab, 3. Weg, li., re. S.))

Helmut Herzfelde studied in Munich (1907-1911) and in Berlin (1912-1914). In 1916 he decided to use the name Heartfield, thus criticising the anti-British sentiments in Germany. He was part of the Dada scene in Berlin and involved with the Communist Party. Together with Georg Grosz he founded the satirical magazine "Die Pleite". He developed photomontage into a form of art.

In 1933 he left Germany for Czechoslovakia where he worked for communist papers. Fearing a German invasion he moved to England in 1938. He lived in Hampstead. After the War he returned to Germany and settled in East Berlin.

Related persons
• cooperated with Griebel, Otto

Images

The grave of John Heartfield at the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof, Berlin. On the left a part of the stone of his brother Wieland Herzfelde's grave is visible.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 1996)

 

Sources
Baedeker Berlin, Baedeker Verlag, Stuttgart, 1994
Berlin Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof, Berlin
Schilderkunst van A tot Z, REBO, Lisse, 1990
• Steckner, Cornelius, Museum Friedhof, Bedeutende Grabmäler in Berlin, Stapp Verlag, Berlin, 1984
John Heartfield - Wikipedia (EN)


Heath, Edward

Published: 26 Oct 2008
Last update: 11 Feb 2023