Merzbild Alf – Kurt Schwitters (1939) is an assemblage composed and constructed by the famous German artist, Kurt Schwitters. The artwork’s title, Merz, is an invented word coined by Schwitters himself as a title for all of his compositions. This particular piece was created in Holland and features objects found on the beach at Kijkduin. These objects were chosen at random, yet they have been turned into art through the element of chance; this notion served to break down traditional artistic conventions.
The pieces that make up the artwork are made up of found artifacts Schwitters collected from the streets of Hannover: commercial labels, newspaper clippings, handwritten text, bits of fabric and wood, as well as two corks. The words used for this piece invoke a poem written by Schwitters in 1919 titled “To Anna Blume” which established his fame as an artist.
Merzbild Alf – Kurt Schwitters (1939) continues to be celebrated amongst art lovers today due its meaning and message it conveys to viewers. Another well-known work by Schwitters is For Kate – Kurt Schwitters (1947), which draws upon his architectural background while continuing to represent his aesthetic vision of merging everyday objects with art.
