Torn Flag 1977

Hannelore Baron, a German-American artist, created this evocative box assemblage, filled with found objects and collage elements, reflecting themes of memory, loss, and identity. Born in Berlin in 1926, Baron’s early life was marked by the rise of Nazism and the trauma of World War II; her father was Jewish and was incarcerated in a concentration camp. This history profoundly shaped her artistic sensibility, leading her to create intimate, poignant works that grapple with the human condition. Baron once said, ‘I am not a political person but the Holocaust has influenced my life and work.’ Torn Flag, like much of Baron’s oeuvre, is imbued with a sense of fragility and impermanence. The torn and fragmented elements suggest a world shattered by violence and displacement, while also speaking to the resilience of the human spirit. The box format creates a sense of intimacy and containment, inviting viewers to contemplate the hidden narratives and personal stories embedded within. The assemblage serves as a powerful reminder of the individual and collective traumas of the 20th century, and the enduring power of art to bear witness to history.