Mit seinen Phrasen will er die Welt vergasen

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Heartfield labels Hitler a “gasbag” for his oratory, but hindsight adds different associations to the comment. The artist has transformed Hitler into a parody of the angel of peace, a symbol used by the League of Nations to advocate disarmament. (The League, founded as a result of World War I, promoted the use of diplomacy instead of armed force). Hitler’s “pets” are an artillery piece and a muzzled dove. Heartfield makes all of the elements in the image photographic, and thus realistic, except the two true symbols of peace: the dove and Hitler’s wings are drawn as linear, flat, insubstantial forms.

Keywords

Germany
Commercial Art
Propaganda
Photomontage
World War II
Politics
Photogravure