Real Gold 1949

Eduardo Paolozzi made this collage, "Real Gold," in 1949 by pasting paper onto cardboard, piecing together a post-war dream of domesticity and technological progress. Paolozzi embraced the art-making process, creating work that revels in the energy of collage. The material aspects of the artwork are immediately striking; the textures and colors clash, creating an atmosphere of unease. Look at how the cut-out of the woman hoovering awkwardly stands on the top of the car; there is a sense of visual tension, a kind of organized chaos. Paolozzi uses the glossy sheen of magazine cut-outs to enhance the sense of desire and commodification. This work reminds me of the collages of Hannah Hoch, who used collage to critique the Weimar Republic; both artists embrace ambiguity, using found imagery to create their own unique vision.