Johannes Baader

The Author of the Book Fourteen Letters of Christ in His Home (Der Verfasser das Buches Vierzehn Briefe Christi in seinem Heim)

1920

Cut-and-pasted gelatin silver prints, cut-and-pasted printed paper, and ink on book pages

Not on view

In this photomontage, Baader presents a photograph of a domestic space in which various Dada ephemera hangs on the wall at upper left. A figure has been cut out of the center of the photograph to reveal the image of Baader's dummy exhibited at the Berlin Dada Fair in 1920. This work is, in fact, a sophisticated self-portrait of Baader in his persona as the "Oberdada," a parody of a high-ranking military figure (ex. Oberleutnant) of the Dada "troupes." The figure cut out of the upper photograph can be identified as Baader himself, as his reflection is visible in the mirror at the right edge of the cutout.

Gallery label from

Dada, June 18–September 11, 2006.

Provenance Research Project

This work is included in the Provenance Research Project, which investigates the ownership history of works in MoMA's collection.

Tristan Tzara, Paris. Acquired from the artist, probably December 1920
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Purchased from the above, 1937

Provenance research is a work in progress, and is frequently updated with new information. If you have any questions or information to provide about the listed works, please email [email protected] or write to:

Provenance Research Project
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Medium Cut-and-pasted gelatin silver prints, cut-and-pasted printed paper, and ink on book pages
Dimensions 8 1/2 x 5 3/4" (21.6 x 14.6 cm)
Credit Purchase
Object number 275.1937
Department Drawings and Prints

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