Each artist has similarities, but still easily distinguishable from one another. All three photographers were considered photomontage artists and were concerned with showcasing a creative spin on events in their time.(Wikipedia contributors) They took it upon themselves to raise awareness and show the truth behind propaganda and other government and societal happenings.
Alexander Rodchenko
Alexander Rodchenko was an artist, sculptor, photographer and graphic designer. As a photographer he was a photomontage artist structuring his work to reflect current issues and events happening around the world. He was known to document political change in his art. He was a socially engaged photographer who used an innovative painterly aesthetic. He was analytical with his documentation but often shot at odd angles to add shock value such as high above or very far below subjects. His photos were emotional, colourful and intense. ("BBC" OCT)
John Heartfield
John Heartfield, best known for his anti-Nazi advocates pieces and his experimentation with cut outs. His early montages were collaborations with George Grosz resembling the Dadaist work of the Dada movement in the 1920's. He experimented with cut ups and made mocking cartoons of political propaganda. Heartfield made many photos but few contained people. Most of the images had the sepia tone to them and had forest backgrounds. (www.towson.edu, 2000)
Peter Kennard is a photographer whose photos have a very cold ominous feel. He was very big with anti war pictorial cartoons and many photos featuring human arms and hands. His photos show hands clutching one another holding on, white knuckled with pressure. Others show hands trying to grip a wall with all their might and sliding down failing but still trying to hold on. Peter Kennards photos had the most expression of emotion in them although they were very eerie but still got his point across. (peterkennard.com 2009)
These photographers absolutely had an impact on society at the time. Their works showcased the truth behind the scenes and treated the viewers with respect. These photographers evoked fear to show the viewers that there is a reason to be afraid and that not all is as it seems. They each had an impact on society but in different ways. While John Heartfield was directly documenting and mocking the Nazi Party in many publications, Alexander Rodchenko was documenting events but with less of a bias or indirectly expressing his opinions (not including his political cartoons). Kennard’s work does not protest a particular side of war, but the very idea of it. His popular peace sign breaking a missile or bomb portrays exactly what him and many others believe in. It appears that Rodchenko’s work has a lot of strict organization involved while Heartfield’s sticks strictly to satirize or harass an opponent. Photographers definitely have the ability to influence society, especially during Heartfield and Rodchenko’s times. Since propaganda was such a big component, photographers had more say in what they wanted to produce and expose to the general public. This speaks strongly to the attitudes of each photographer who used propaganda to express an opinion.
"Bbc. (Oct). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/photography/genius/gallery/rodchenko.shtml"
http://www.museenkoeln.de. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.museenkoeln.de/museum-ludwig/default.asp?s=2071
"peterkennard.com. (2009, 10 02). Retrieved from www.peterkennard.com"
"www.towson.edu. (2000, 10 27). Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/heartfield/"
"www.towson.edu. (2000, 10 27). Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/heartfield/artarchive.html/"
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomontage
