Stefan Heym Demands Heartfield Recognition. “Tell Me, Do You Know What’s Become Of John Heartfield?” Berlin, 1954.
“Tell me, do you know what’s become of John Heartfield?”
This question, which sounds like the beginning of a detective story, is quite justified. It is almost as if one of the greatest and most original artists of or time had disappeared without a trace, disappeared without trace in our midst, in the GDR! […]
John Heartfield is well-known abroad. His works have been exhibited in the Soviet Union and in America with tremendous success. Not so in the GDR. Why? Are there perhaps people who believe Heartfield’s montages have to do with “formalism” because spines made from gold coins do not exist? Is that the reason why he is not encouraged to continue with his photomontages?
I believe that John Heartfield, considering his work and the magnitude of his art, deserves a place in the Academy. […]
And finally, I believe it would be well and good if one of those bodies that have to do with bestowing national awards seriously considered John Heartfield.
As a rule, national awards are given for books, plays, and films. But here lies a whole life’s work before us. Here is an artist who has proved all his life what he can do and where he stands. […]”