Union Unity, from the People's Illustrated 1937

Curator: Today, we are looking at John Heartfield’s photomontage, “Union Unity, from the People’s Illustrated,” created in 1937. Editor: It has such a solemn feel to it, doesn't it? The muted sepia tones and the close framing really emphasize the figures' somber expressions. It feels weighted, serious. Curator: Absolutely. Heartfield, a master of photomontage, strategically employs the medium to serve a clear political message. Notice the three figures embracing a globe. He uses the construction and layering inherent in photomontage to symbolize a unified working class, coming together. Editor: That's a very optimistic reading, I would agree. Considering the time, though, I wonder if it's maybe tinged with anxiety, too? It's '37—the rise of fascism is looming, if not already present, and this feels like a desperate plea for solidarity. The imagery, three men protectively shielding a globe...it feels fragile, vulnerable. What are your thoughts on that assessment? Curator: Well, certainly, the political climate informs our understanding. The specific nature of a "photomontage," literally piecing together photographic elements from print media, offers valuable insight here. He takes these existing images—perhaps already loaded with specific contexts and associations—and recontextualizes them. To think of the individual labor involved in this artistic production... how his deliberate arrangement of these images highlights the necessity of such global cooperation against growing tyranny, that feels really salient to me. Editor: I am picking up on that same sentiment! I think your understanding helps ground our interpretations to emphasize the interconnectedness, not just among laborers but also across national borders, it's crucial to remember that class struggle isn't confined to any single nation. This piece is an active argument. It implores the audience to imagine, or participate, in an alliance. Curator: Precisely. Editor: Seeing this, knowing its historical backdrop, and recognizing that it reflects issues of international solidarity...I appreciate Heartfield's deliberate material manipulation for creating a rallying call through something so widely distributed as an illustrated paper. Curator: Indeed. Heartfield's dedication and activism shine through in his choices in image construction, don’t they? Editor: Absolutely. The deliberate hand of the artist advocating across borders and throughout the century makes an indelible statement about our relationship to one another.