Plate VIII from "Fiat modes pereat ars" (Let There Be Fasion, Down with Art)
『生まれよファッション 滅びよ芸術』VIII
- Birth Year
- 1891
- Death Year
- 1976
- Date
- 1919
- Technique, Material, Format
- lithograph
- Dimension
- sheet: 45.5 x 33.0 cm
- Category
- Print by Foreign Artist
- Inventory Number
- 83-PRF-002-08
This is regarded as Leaf VIII in the portfolio. Two sets of pulleys are connected to a large round indicator in the upper right. One is a device for measuring the value of the person suspended via a triple pulley at the bottom of the image, with an arrow on the gauge indicating just below 1 Mark (the German currency). Another draws a triple line which looks like a continuation of the musical note at the lower center of the image through a pulley-gear mechanism at the top left. This connects to the wavy needle on the gauge that indicates zero. The two devices are connected in turn to the weight pulley labeled 1/2 Dada at the bottom right. As the person’s weight increases, their monetary value decreases, and they approach the maximum of Da, or Dadamax (Max Ernst himself). The musical note and "DaDa NoBis vaLuTamTam," are a parody of the last phrase of Catholic Mass Dona Nobis Pacem (Give us peace).
(NAKAMURA Naoaki)