The artwork titled “Cherry Picture” was created by artist Kurt Schwitters in 1921. This piece is a synthesis of collage, gouache, objet trouvé, cardboard, and wood and is associated with the Dada art movement. The dimensions of the artwork are 36 1/8 by 27 3/4 inches, and it falls under the genre of figurative art. “Cherry Picture” is currently housed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
Examining the artwork, one observes a complex assembly of materials and textures. The composition is an intricate interplay of disparate elements, featuring paper scraps, tickets, labels, and a variety of found objects, which come together in a harmonious yet thought-provoking tableau. The variation in materiality adds depth and a tactile quality to the piece, inviting the viewer to ponder the relationship between the individual components. The inclusion of the small, centrally placed drawing of cherries on white paper serves as a visual anchor amidst the surrounding chaos, lending the piece its title. Schwitters’ technique of combining everyday items with painterly gestures exemplifies the Dadaists’ rejection of traditional art forms and their embracement of absurdity and spontaneity. The artwork stands as a testimony to the innovative and iconoclastic spirit of its time, challenging notions of aesthetics and the function of art.
