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          Merz Composition (1922) by Kurt Schwitters, hand-painted oil painting reproduction by a master artist
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          Kurt Schwitters

          Merz Composition Hand-painted oil painting reproduction

          Dimensions
          22.0 x 16.0 cm

          A visually complex Dadaist collage featuring geometric shapes and a clock by Kurt Schwitters from 1922, capturing the essence of Merz through intricate textures that invite you to explore this masterpiece of modern art.
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          Explore Kurt Schwitters' (1887-1948) innovative art: Dada, Merz collage & installations. Discover his use of found objects & impact on modern art.
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          Hand Made Oil Reproduction

          Hand-painted oil on canvas in your size and frame, made to order by our artists. ( Switch to Print Switch to Digital Image)

          Corner sample of the P118B picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          P118B $10
          Corner sample of the P118H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          P118H $10
          Corner sample of the P118W picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          P118W $10
          Corner sample of the P438Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P438Z $10
          Corner sample of the P508JH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P508JH $12
          Corner sample of the P508YH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P508YH $12
          Corner sample of the P805H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P805H $10
          Corner sample of the P805Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P805Z $10
          Corner sample of the P919BZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P919BZ $10
          Corner sample of the P919G picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P919G $10
          Corner sample of the P919XJ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          P919XJ $10
          Corner sample of the P959ZH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          P959ZH $10
          Corner sample of the P968JZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 6 cm wide and 4 cm thick
          P968JZ $12
          Corner sample of the W106C picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W106C $8
          Corner sample of the W218G picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W218G $10
          Corner sample of the W218JH picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W218JH $8
          Corner sample of the W218Y picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W218Y $10
          Corner sample of the W307PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W307PJ $10
          Corner sample of the W316G picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W316G $10
          Corner sample of the W316PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W316PJ $8
          Corner sample of the W316Y picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W316Y $10
          Corner sample of the W398PJ picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W398PJ $8
          Corner sample of the W4111J picture frame: solid wood, 6.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          W4111J $10
          Corner sample of the W500HY picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
          W500HY $15
          Corner sample of the W500JH picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
          W500JH $15
          Corner sample of the W692G picture frame: solid wood, 8 cm wide and 4 cm thick
          W692G $12
          Corner sample of the W849H picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
          W849H $8
          Corner sample of the W940BG picture frame: solid wood, 7.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm thick
          W940BG $15
          Corner sample of the W953PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
          W953PJ $8

          Standard
          custom
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          INCH

          Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

          width
          height

          Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. This is hand-painted, so for a size with a different shape the artist can paint a bit more around the picture, or cut a bit — you choose. We send you a digital mockup to approve before the painting starts. The picture shown on this page does not show the real result — only the mockup does.

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          Examples of what can be changed: Replace face with customer photo; Add pet (e.g., replace cat with dog); Include hidden message in background; Change background landscape or elements.
          After order, WahooArt.com team will email client for instructions and provide a mockup preview
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          Worldwide Delivery () in 3/4 weeks instead of standard 5 weeks. (13 November). No compromise on quality.

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          Total Price

          $ 272

          Merz Composition

          Reproduction Medium

          Reproduction Size

          -

          Total Price

          $ 272

          Quick Facts

          • Year: 1922
          • Influences: The Great War, everyday debris
          • Artistic style: Avant-garde, abstract collage
          • Artist: Kurt Schwitters
          • Title: Merz Composition
          • Medium: collage on paper

          Art Quiz

          There is only one correct answer for each question.

          Question 1:
          In what year was Merz Composition created?
          Question 2:
          What is the technique used in Merz Composition?
          Question 3:
          Which element is visible on the right side of the painting?
          Question 4:
          What movement is Merz Composition associated with?
          Question 5:
          What are the dimensions of the artwork?

          Identification of Merz Composition by Kurt Schwitters

          The eye meets Merz Composition, a work that breathes with the restless energy of 1922. Created by the artist Kurt Schwitters, this piece emerges from the fractured landscape of the Dadaism movement. It exists in a portrait format, standing tall as a rhythmic arrangement of fragments. The work captures a specific moment of creative rebellion, where the logic of the old world has been dismantled to make room for something entirely new.

          This collage on paper presents a visual language born from the debris of everyday life. Kurt Schwitters gathers the discarded and the mundane, assembling them into a complex structure that defies traditional order. Every scrap and shape within this composition speaks to the spirit of an era defined by sudden, sharp shifts in perspective. It is a quiet yet profound assembly of pieces that refuse to remain silent.

          Visual Composition and Elements

          A rhythmic dance of geometry and chance unfolds across the surface, where squares and rectangular forms scatter like fallen leaves or architectural blueprints. The eye moves through a labyrinth of shapes that refuse to settle into a single plane. Some forms overlap with a sense of deliberate precision, creating a structured logic, while others seem to drift in a state of weightless suspension. This interplay between foreground and background builds a multidimensional space, inviting a sense of depth within the layered textures and tones.

          The palette remains grounded in earthy tones, providing a quiet stage for the various shapes and colors to interact. On the right side, a clock emerges from the arrangement, its presence introducing a subtle layer of symbolism. This element acts as a memento mori, a quiet reminder of the relentless passage of time that governs both the decay of physical objects and the evolution of human thought. The composition captures a moment of beautiful instability, where order and disorder exist in a constant, shifting tension.

          Technique and Artistic Materials

          The surface of this work breathes with the grit of the streets. Through a technique of collage on paper, Schwitters assembles a visually complex Dadaist landscape that refuses to remain static. He reaches into the debris of the everyday, gathering scraps of paper, discarded tickets, and other mundane fragments to build his vision. These found materials act as a bridge, pulling the raw reality of the streets into the realm of high art. Each layer feels heavy with the history of its previous existence.

          There is a palpable, tactile quality to the arrangement. One can almost feel the edges of the paper and the uneven textures of the assemblage. By utilizing these discarded objects, the artist creates a rhythmic language of fragments. The work exists as a triumph of collage, where the distinction between the art object and the world it depicts begins to dissolve. It is a reconstruction of life from the very pieces left behind in the wake of chaos.

          Current Location and Museum Collection

          The fragments of this composition find their home within the Szépművészeti Múzeum. This institution resides in Budapest, Hungary, where it preserves the piece as a vital part of its permanent collection. The work remains identified by the inventory number D_K.72.2, a quiet marker of its place within the museum's vast holdings.

          Visitors to this neoclassical palace in Budapest encounter the work as a preserved piece of history. It exists here among other treasures, held within the curated spaces of the museum. The presence of this collage within the Hungarian collection ensures that Schwitters' rhythmic arrangement of shapes and time remains accessible to those who wander through the halls of the Szépművészeti Múzeum.

          Questions & Answers

          How was "Merz Composition" made, and how big is it?

          "Merz Composition" was made in collage and measures 22 x 16 cm in its original form.

          Which artistic current is "Merz Composition" by Kurt Schwitters part of?

          "Merz Composition" by Kurt Schwitters belongs to the Dadaism movement. This movement provides the stylistic context of the work.

          Where does "Merz Composition" by Kurt Schwitters sit in art history?

          Historically, "Merz Composition" is a Dadaism work of the broader Modern era.

          Related Artworks

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          Merz Picture 32a (the Cherry Picture) — Kurt Schwitters, Dadaism
          Kurt Schwitters Merz Picture 32A (The Cherry Picture)
          Collage — Max Ernst, Dada
          Max Ernst Collage
          ''c'' Für Kurt Schwitters — Paul Klee, Assemblage
          Paul Klee ''C'' für Kurt Schwitters
          Santa Claus — Kurt Schwitters, Dada Collage
          Kurt Schwitters Santa Claus
          Revolving — Kurt Schwitters, Dada Merz Collage
          Kurt Schwitters Revolving
          Rotoreliefs (optical Discs) 1 — Marcel Duchamp, Abstract Geometric
          Marcel Duchamp Rotoreliefs (Optical Discs) 1
          Collage — Ad Reinhardt, Geometric Abstraction
          Ad Reinhardt Collage
          Collage — Ad Reinhardt, Synthetic Cubism
          Ad Reinhardt Collage

          Artist Biography

          Kurt Schwitters: A Life in Merz

          Early Life and Education

          • Born: June 20, 1887, in Hanover, Germany.
          • Schwitters was the only child of Eduard and Henriette Schwitters. His father co-owned a ladies' clothing shop.
          • The family’s financial situation improved after selling the business in 1898, allowing them to live off rental income from properties they acquired.
          • He studied art at the Dresden Academy from 1909-1915 alongside artists like Otto Dix and George Grosz, though he seemingly remained unaware of their work at the time.
          • Schwitters suffered his first epileptic seizure in 1901, which later exempted him from military service for a period during World War I.

          Artistic Development and the Birth of Merz

          • Initially, Schwitters worked in a post-impressionist style. His early work reflected this influence.
          • The devastation of World War I profoundly impacted his artistic direction. He felt traditional academic training was irrelevant in the face of societal collapse.
          • “In the war, things were in terrible turmoil…everything had broken down and new things had to be made out of the fragments; and this is Merz.”
          • Around 1918, he began creating abstract collages using found objects – scraps of paper, tickets, and other discarded materials.
          • The term “Merz” itself came from a fragment of text (“Commerz und Privatbank”) cut from an advertisement and incorporated into one of his early works, *Das Merzbild* (1918-19).

          Key Works and Artistic Styles

          • Merz Pictures: These collages are arguably Schwitters’ most famous contribution. They represent a radical departure from traditional art, embracing chance and the aesthetics of everyday life.
          • Merzbau: A monumental architectural construction within his home in Hanover, continuously evolving over decades. It was a three-dimensional embodiment of Merz principles – a labyrinthine space filled with niches, grottoes, and found objects.
          • Assemblage & Installation Art: Schwitters pioneered these forms, blurring the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and architecture.
          • He also worked in poetry, sound, graphic design, and typography, exploring a wide range of artistic media.

          Influences and Connections

          • Early influences included post-impressionism, but he quickly moved beyond these conventions.
          • He came into contact with members of the Berlin avant-garde – Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Höch, and Hans Arp – through Herwarth Walden’s *Der Sturm* gallery.
          • While associated with Dadaism, Schwitters maintained a distinct artistic identity. He was initially rejected by some Dadaists for his ties to expressionism.

          Later Life and Legacy

          • Facing increasing persecution under the Nazi regime due to his “degenerate art,” Schwitters fled Germany in 1937.
          • He spent time in Norway and England, continuing to create Merz works despite challenging circumstances. He was briefly interned as an enemy alien during World War II.
          • Died: January 8, 1948, in Ambleside, England.
          • Kurt Schwitters’ work profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists, particularly those involved in Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art.
          • His innovative use of found objects and his exploration of the relationship between art and everyday life continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.

          Historical Significance

          • Schwitters’ Merz aesthetic challenged traditional notions of artistic beauty and authorship.
          • He expanded the definition of art by incorporating non-art materials and blurring the lines between different disciplines.
          • His work remains a powerful testament to the creative potential of fragmentation, reconstruction, and the embrace of chance.
          Kurt Schwitters

          Kurt Schwitters

          1887 - 1948 , Germany

          Quick Facts

          • Name: Kurt Schwitters
          • Movement:
            • Dadaism
            • Constructivism
            • Surrealism
            • Merz
          • Birth Date: June 20, 1887
          • Death Date: 1948
          • Birth Place: Hanover, Germany
          • Nationality: German
          • Date Of Birth: 1887
          • Date Of Death: 1948
          • Notable Works:
            • Merz pictures
            • Merzbau

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