Art As A Weapon

John Heartfield Famous Antifascist Masterpieces

John Heartfield’s 240 famous political works of art for the AIZ magazine are the most illuminating blow-by-blow visual critique of fascism and Nazis according to the brilliant artist and Tate Modern Curator David King. My grandfather worked night after night, year after year, constantly risking his life, to combine his talent for collage with his understanding of the factors that directly lead to the horrors World War II. He was gifted with a heart capable of great compassion and a mind capable of using satire to strike at the very core of ugly fascist reality. His vision and his work are as essential today as when he used his art “as a weapon” against fascism and the Nazis.

John Heartfield Photo Montage

1938

Prague, Czechoslovakia

“Das ist das Heil, das sie bringen!”

By John J Heartfield

Fascist dictators promise prosperity and order. What they bring is bring division and death.

This is one of the few Heartfield works that contains a great many words. The words appear to be a visual addition to the art. From a distance, they could be a report of civilians being gassed or the endless “only I can fix it” claims of a fascist dictator.

John Heartfield was still tirelessly working as the German army attacked Czechoslovakia in 1938. It was political art such as this masterpiece that made Heartfield an essential Gestapo target. Of the approximately 85 people on the Gestapo’s most-wanted list, Heartfield was number five. He was one of the fortunate few on the list to survive.

This disturbing image of murdered civilians would be a completely relevant poster for resistance to the fascist regimes of the 21st century.

It is a timeless reminder that unconditional love given to the “only one who can fix it” will always result in suffering and death.

“Das ist das Heil, das sie bringen!”

By John J Heartfield

1938