Ilya Ehrenburg. Most Sacred Possessions 1931

John Heartfield created this photomontage cover for Ilya Ehrenburg’s novel in Germany, likely using pre-existing printed images. Through careful arrangement and juxtaposition, Heartfield created a powerful visual commentary on labor, politics, and consumption. The chessboard is a stage for figures representing various social classes and power structures, while on the other side, stacks of coins and matches sit next to an artillery shell. The materials here are images, taken from different sources to create a new and critical whole. Heartfield was a master of this technique, using it to expose the inner workings of power. The process here isn't about traditional artistic skill, but about the critical act of selection and combination. The work asks us to consider how images themselves can be tools, not just of representation, but of manipulation. This cover challenges the conventional understanding of art as a unique creation, emphasizing the importance of context, material, and making. It prompts us to reflect on the social and political forces that shape our world.