copyright 2000
Richard Huelsenbeck
The Dada movement consisted of more then just physical works of art. It included the art of poetry. Richard Huelsenbeck
played a major role in expressing the opinions of the Dadaist with words. His powerful words swept over Zurick and Berlin
for nearly seven decades. Born in Frankenau, Germany in April of 1892, Huelsenbeck dedicated his life to speaking against
the powers that existed. He showed his confidence in the dada movement by being one of the first manifestos of the movement.
He developed an individual journalistic style, mysterious and filled with meaning. His words painted a picture of the horror
that took place thoughout Europe. Huelsenbeck was also noted for his fascination with Negro rhythms. He preferred the big
tomtom, which he used with his poetic prayers. His fascination with the rhythms had a great affect on his poetry and the way
in which he subjected it to his audience. Huelsenbeck died on April of 1974. He was responsible for several poetic and
journalistic works, including the
Dada Almanach.
It is difficult to sum up the innumerable expressions of hostility to Dadaism in a few words. Neverthless, at the risk of one more misunderstanding, we shall attempt a brief formulation; the misunderstanding from which Dadaism suffered is a chronic disease that still poisons the world. In its essence it can be defined as the inability of a rationalized epoch and of rationalized meant to see the positive side of an irrational movement...If this positive element has always been disregarded, any innate nastiness in Dadaism is less to blame than the generally negative, critical and cynical attitude of our time, which drives people to project their own vileness into persons, things and opinions around them. In other words, we believe that the neurotic conflict of our time, that manifests itself in a generally negative, unspiritual, and brutal attitude, discovered a whipping boy in Dadaism.---Richard Huelsenbeck, 1949
Main page |
The Gallery |
Heartfield's Successors |
The Dada Movement |
 |