The artwork titled “For Kate” was created by artist Kurt Schwitters in 1947. It is a collage executed in a figurative style, characteristic of the Dada art movement. The piece measures 9.8 by 13 centimeters and is part of a private collection.
This particular collage by Schwitters amalgamates a variety of elements onto a compact canvas. The artwork integrates printed paper pieces, possibly cut from publications or other printed media, arranged in a manner that suggests a dynamic human scene. The scene seems to depict an interaction among multiple figures, with one central female figure whose expression and gesture toward one of the male figures possibly indicates a moment of distress or urgency. The figures are surrounded by a collage of elements that add to the visual complexity of the piece, including what appears to be a postal stamp, indicating an interest in the incorporation of everyday, ephemeral objects—the hallmark of Schwitters’ practice. The artist’s signature and the year of the work’s creation are visibly written on the lower edge of the collage, further anchoring it in its historical context. The words “FOR KATE” inscribed within the composition add a personal dimension to the artwork, suggesting a dedicated intention behind this creation.
