Johannes Theodor Baargeld facts for kids
Johannes Theodor Baargeld was the pen name of Alfred Emanuel Ferdinand Grünwald. He was a German painter and poet, born on October 9, 1892. Baargeld is famous for helping to start the Dada art group in Cologne, Germany, along with another artist named Max Ernst. He also sometimes used the name Zentrodada when he was involved with Dada.
Baargeld was born in a city called Stettin (now Szczecin) in what was then Prussian Pomerania. He studied law at Oxford University in England and the University of Bonn in Germany. Later, in 1919, Baargeld became the editor of a magazine called The Fan (Der Ventilator). Max Ernst and Hans Arp also helped start this magazine. Baargeld also worked on other Dada publications, like Bulletin D and Dada W/3.
Serving His Country
When World War I began in 1914, Baargeld joined the army. He served as a reserve lieutenant for three years. This means he was an officer who could be called upon to serve if needed.
Writing and Art
After his time in the army, Baargeld started his writing career in 1917. He wrote for a journal called Die Aktion, which was edited by Franz Pfemfert. Baargeld's writings were often poems and political pieces. A year later, he joined a political group called the Independent Socialist Party of Germany (USPD).
Before the Dada group officially began, Baargeld supported a left-leaning magazine called Der Ventilator. This magazine was a way for future Dada artists, like Angelika Hoerle and Heinrich Hoerle, to share their satirical works. Satirical works often make fun of things in a clever way to make a point.
Dada Art Movement
Johannes Theodor Baargeld was a key figure in the Dada movement in Cologne. Dada was an art movement that started during World War I. Artists in this movement often used humor and nonsense to protest against war and traditional ideas about art. They believed that the world had become illogical, so their art should be illogical too.
Baargeld also worked with Max Ernst on some collages for Ernst's "Fatagaga" series. Collages are artworks made by gluing different materials, like paper, photographs, or fabric, onto a surface.
Later Life and Legacy
Baargeld stopped painting in 1921. Sadly, he died in 1927 in an avalanche. This happened while he was climbing a mountain called Aiguille de Bionnassay in the French Alps.
His work, though not as widely known as some other Dada artists, was important for the movement. He helped shape the unique style of Dada in Cologne.
See also
- List of German painters
- List of Dadaists
