Photomontage

Photomontage is the process (and result) of making a composite image by cutting and joining a number of photographs.

The manipulation of photographs has a history going back to the invention of photography in the mid 19th century. Landscape photographers often used double exposures to compensate for difficulties in having both the land and sky properly exposed. Nor’Easter by H.P. Robinson 1890

1902 – ‘Man with the Rubber Head’ a film still Early Photomontage artists were amused by the juxtaposition of unusual elements and or the creation of strange or impossible creatures.

Photomontage as an art form in itself began after the first world war in the 1920’s and 30’s with artists such as John Heartfield desiring to make statements that addressed the times. ‘Adolph the Superman’ /

‘The German Oak Tree’ John Heartfield and other Dada artists created photomontages with scissors, photographs and glue.

Contemporary photomontages for the most part are done on the computer. You though will first explore the art with scissors, photographs and glue and follow up the assignment by manipulating photographs on the computer. The next slides offer endless possibilities and approaches to this art form.

‘No Third Party’ Kennard Phillips ‘Happy Christmas from Palestine’ /

Kennard Phillips ‘Photo Op’ ‘Times World Atlas’ /

Barry Kite – Noted for satire using fine art images ‘Frida & Diego are Warned About the Dog’ ‘Mona Lisa has to eat too’

Barry Kite ‘Flea Market of the Gods’ ’Cubical-ism’

Artist Sean Hillen ‘Great Cliffs of Collage Green’ /

Portrait Montages by: Kevin Duff

non-examples