<< HEARTFIELD CHRONOLOGY – ALL YEARS1957 1958 1960 1962 1964 1968

“Do I have to be a professor?”

German Dada Pioneer & Anti-Fascist Activist Artist John Heartfield
German Dada Pioneer & Anti-Fascist Activist Artist John Heartfield

Between 1960 and 1961, John Heartfield is awarded several honors and receives the title of “Professor.”

PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE CURATOR, THE ARTIST’S PATERNAL GRANDSON, PROFESSOR JOHN J HEARTFIELD

I spent time with my grandfather in Liguria, Italy, in the 1950s and 1960s. These visits with my grandfather were some of the happiest memories of my childhood. He and I became very close.

Everyone on my Italian mother’s side of the family affectionately addressed my grandfather as “Professore” [Professor Heartfield]

My grandfather had a natural ability to connect with everyone he met. Professor Heartfield never “put on airs” or talked down to people who wanted to chat with him.

Below are photos from the John J Heartfield Collection. It shows my grandfather Heartfield filming on the beach in Cavi, Italy, circa 1960. The camera he’s holding is one of my treasured keepsakes of my grandfather. Whenever we were together, some type of photo or video camera was always in his hands or within reach. Some of his movies can be seen the Life As A Fighter -> Video -> John J Heartfield Collection section of The Exhibition.


Professor John Heartfield  holding an 8mm camera, Italy, 1960

John Heartfield filming in Cavi, Liguria, Italy, 1960. A camera was always within reach. The camera he is holding in this photo is part of the John J Heartfield Collection. Courtesy: John J Heartfield Collection. © 2019 John J Heartfield Collection. All Rights Reserved.



Professor John Heartfield & family, 1960

L-R: Tutti Heartfield, Eva Sondermeijer, John J Heartfield, Catherine Heartfield, John Heartfield, Lina Heartfield, Lina's niece Carla Dasso. Courtesy: John J Heartfield Collection. © 2019 John J Heartfield Collection. All Rights Reserved.



Professor John Heartfield at awards ceremony

John Heartfield was always ready to chat. He was a spirited speaker and an intense listener.


John Heartfield's Office, circa 1960

Although he was never as profilic as he was during the anti-Nazi years, Heartfield never completely stopped working.


Professor John J Heartfield is John Heartfield’s paternal grandson. He gives live interactive presentations around the world that focus on his grandfather’s life and work and modern political art. Please write to him to request his presence at your event or ask any question. He is always pleased to hear from exhibition visitors.

Dada Political Artist John Heartfield grandson, Professor John Heartfield, Curator Official John Heartfield Exhibition