11. “Merz Drawings” III: The Later Years

Kurt Schwitters’s later collage works were produced under difficult conditions while the artist was living in London and in Ambleside in the Lake District. Life in London during the Second World War was perilous and tough, but at the same time, the city also offered a wealth of interesting materials that could be used for artistic purposes. His experiences of the heaving metropolis of London inspired Schwitters to start making collages again. Many of the works in question are based on images from colour magazines, and some are accompanied by segments of English-language text. Schwitters made playful attempts to learn the new language and to adapt to English society and culture. Since he had barely any friends or patrons in his early days in England, he posted numerous collages to collectors and friends overseas in order to keep in touch and make some money. As such, these artworks combine a sense of personal hardship, linguistic and cultural adaptation, and the ongoing pursuit of his “Merz” concept in a new set of circumstances.

Background: After being released from the internment camp in 1941, Schwitters relocated to London with his son Ernst, where they lived together in a tiny flat. Schwitters tried to make a name for himself in the London art scene and took part in a number of exhibitions. But in order to make a living, Schwitters was still forced to rely on patrons and sales overseas. In 1944, Schwitters learned that his wife Helma had died from cancer in Hanover – the last time the pair had seen each other was in 1939. Schwitters met his new partner Edith Thomas in England. When the war ended, they settled in the picturesque Lake District in the north of England, where Schwitters returned to painting landscapes and portraits. His health deteriorated, but he continued with his artistic pursuits and endeavoured – albeit unsuccessfully – to emigrate to the USA.