John Heartfield Graphic Novel
Artwork: Lance Hansen
Text: John J Heartfield

BACKGROUND    PLOT    GET READY

Heartfield Graphic Novel, Chapter 1, Page 1

Heartfield Graphic Novel, Chapter 1, Page 1

Heartfield Graphic Novel: Background

Lance Hansen and John J Heartfield met after Lance’s excellent George Grosz piece appeared in The Nation Magazine. Energized, they spoke about doing a similar work regarding John’s famous grandfather, John Heartfield. However, they realized a short piece could not fully express the cinematic life of the renowned German artist.

Lance and John agreed to write a graphic novel spanning the most turbulent era of modern history. The novel reveals an artist’s life filled with courage, excitement, humor, and pathos. Major publications, such as The Nation, will publish excerpts. That reflects the importance of the work and the quality of John and Lance’s collaboration.

Heartfield Graphic Novel: Plot

Abandoned in the woods at the age of 9, John Heartfield became one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. His early work with George Grosz exploded the accepted norms of European art. Heartfield was a founding member of the Berlin Club Dada. He was a vital member of an art scene that included Hannah Höch, Raoul Hausmann, and Kurt Schwitters.

From 1920-1929, Heartfield’s graphic designs for the publishing house Malik Verlag revolutionized book covers for authors like Upton Sinclair and Sinclair Lewis. Modern graphic designers look to his groundbreaking typography work.

His stunning antifascist art (photomontages) made John Heartfield an icon in the world of collage and mixed media art. With only essential tools like scissors and paste, the pacificist Heartfield waged an information war against fascism and The Third Reich with his “art as a weapon.” His stubborn resistance made him Number 5 on The Gestapo’s Most Wanted List.

Heartfield Graphic Novel: Get Ready

Get ready for the untold entertaining true story of a man who stood up to the world’s worst dictators with integrity spiced with biting wit.