The artwork titled “Aphorism” was created by artist Kurt Schwitters in 1923. It is a collage executed in an abstract style, embodying the principles of the Dada art movement. This piece is held in the collection of the Tate Modern, located in London, UK.
The artwork features a composition of various paper elements adhered to a substrate, resulting in a textural and visually complex collage. The color palette is subdued, comprising earthy tones with instances of blue and red. Patches of differing texture and color create a layered effect, suggesting depth despite the primarily two-dimensional plane. The arrangement of elements appears spontaneous, demonstrating a lack of concern for traditional pictorial representation, which is characteristic of the Dada movement’s approach to art. The use of found materials is indicative of Schwitters’ interest in the detritus of everyday life and his desire to transform such materials into art. The signature “Kt. Schwitters” can be discerned in the lower right corner, providing a hint of the artist’s presence within this assemblage of otherwise impersonal fragments.
