Merzbild Alf is an artwork created between 1920 and 1939 by Kurt Schwitters. It is a mixed media and paint piece, made up of plywood. The masterpiece is currently housed at Yale University Art Gallery and was part of the collection. It has the dimensions of 61 3/5 × 47 4/5 × 10 1/2 in, making it a rather large piece. What makes this art interesting is its genre and style – it’s abstract and dada, respectively.
Merzbild Alf certainly stands apart from the rest with its modernistic style concept and materials used. The plywood reflects Schwitters’ aesthetic interest in found objects since wood was readily available around him in his travels throughout Europe. Merzbild Alf showcases Schwitters’ experimental approach to composition that he developed throughout his career, which can also be seen in his later work Merzbilde Med Regnbue (Merzpicture With Rainbow).
Merzbild Alf by Kurt Schwitters shows how far artists can push the boundaries of art in terms of their concepts, materials and styles. His use of mixed media on plywood creates something unique and captivating that will mesmerize viewers for years to come. Merzbild Alf gives an insight into Schwitter’s vision of abstract art which still resonates with us today, almost exactly 80 years after its creation in 1939.
