The Meaning of Collage
Collage is our most modern art form. Its art history spans almost 100 years. Modern masters like Picasso, Matisse, Pollack and Motherwell were collage artists, and their collage masterpieces (and the collages of other great moderns) are displayed in the greatest museums throughout the world.
What is the origin of collage?
It all started in France in 1912 when Picasso introduced collage into one of his oil paintings – he glued a piece of wood grain wallpaper into the picture plane. The intent was to create a pictorial enigma. Picasso’s invention led to a radical change in our perception of art. Other artists were inspired to follow in Picasso’s footsteps, to explore the materiality of paper and other collage additions to their paintings. Shortly photomontage evolved as a genre; artists like Kurt Schwitters incorporated text and found papers into formalist abstract works (the collage was the work). Collage led to photomontage, surrealism, dadaism, constructivism, and to other 20th century art movements throughout Europe and the United States.
Collage changed our perception of what great art is and what great art can look like. Collage gave modern artists permission to explore what art can be.
Where did the word collage come from?
Picasso called his work “papiers colles” (in French) – which translates into “pasted papers.” The name colle/collage stuck and the collage genre was born.
Who were the major collage artists?
Famous European artists who have worked in collage include Pablo Picasso, George Braque, Henri Matisse, Max Ernst, Jean Arp, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Hoch, Marcel Duchamp, El Lissitzky, Carlo Carra, Jean Dubuffet, and Kurt Schwitters (and many others). Collage has become part of every major European artistic movement of the 20th century – cubism, futurism, expressionism, dadaism, surrealism, constructivism, etc.
American artists associated with collage were not necessarily associated with major art movements (like dadaism or surrealism), but developed independent styles and followings. The list of American artists who have worked in collage include Joseph Cornell, Man Ray, Robert Motherwell, Romare Bearden, Alfonso Ossorio, Ann Ryan, Robert Rauschenberg, Ray Johnson, Buster Cleveland, Robert Courtright, Robert Goodnough, Jess, even Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner.
What is collage – What can collage be?
Collage is hot. Museums and galleries nationwide and internationally are showing solo and group shows that focus on collage. Major shows are scheduled, including a Romare Bearden retrospective that will travel to museums throughout the US in 2004 and 2005.
Collage is our most democratic art. Collage speaks a universal language. It’s intent, through the materials and imagery it incorporates, is to address our shared experiences in a way that connects us all.