Collage
Collage is an artistic practice involving the assembly of various materials, such as paper, fabric, and found objects, onto a backing to create a new, cohesive artwork. Originating from the French word meaning "to glue," this technique has deep historical roots, with examples dating back to twelfth-century Japan and its use in European scrapbooks during the nineteenth century. It gained prominence in the early twentieth century, notably through the works of cubist artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who introduced distinctive textures and forms by incorporating everyday materials into their paintings. The medium further evolved with movements like Surrealism and Dadaism, where artists utilized collage to convey political messages and express personal narratives.
In contemporary art, collage remains a versatile form, often merging with other styles such as painting and photography. Today, many artists employ digital tools to create collages, reflecting the medium's adaptability to new technologies. While traditionally viewed as a playful or accessible art form, collage is now recognized in galleries and museums, allowing both serious artists and hobbyists to explore their creativity and personal expression. Understanding the principles of copyright and fair use is also essential for those looking to incorporate existing works into their collages.
Subject Terms
Collage
History
The term "collage" comes from the French word collage, means "to glue" or "to stick." It refers to an art form in which paper and other materials, sometimes derived from existing art pieces, are glued or otherwise attached onto a backing to create a new work. Simple collage methods are as old as the invention of paper; in Japan, artists were gluing together scraps of cloth and paper on which they had painted elaborate calligraphic texts as far back as the twelfth century CE. In nineteenth-century Europe, people returning from vacations would use collage techniques to create scrapbooks containing souvenirs from their trips. Europeans also often mounted cutouts of paintings and drawings onto screens as household decorations.
Collage—and its three-dimensional counterpart, assemblage—did not come into its own as a serious art form until the early twentieth century, when cubist painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque began pasting cloth, paper and other materials onto their canvases to create interesting textures and shapes. The two are also credited with giving collage its name. Surrealist and Dadaist artists of the 1920s and 1930s used collage widely, often incorporating bits of newspaper clippings or creating absurd juxtapositions to comment on the political turmoil of their times and protest against war. Important collage artists of this period include Max Ernst and Kurt Schwitters.
In the twenty-first century, collage is a respected visual art medium and is often combined with other art forms, such as painting and photography, to create a rich mixed-media vocabulary. In addition to being a vehicle for communicating complex concepts or ideas, it is also a fruitful avenue for personal expression.
Tips and Techniques
Because the medium is so open and exploratory, it is difficult to list the characteristics that make a "good" collage work. A piece that has a lot of impact may juxtapose seemingly unrelated elements that play off each other to create an unexpected synergy, or it may make use of an overarching theme that unites all the materials and images found within it. For many artists, collage is an entirely personal medium that expresses deeply individual ideas or memories; for others, it is a tool for creating powerful social, cultural, or political commentary.
Trends
Starting in the late 1990s, collage as an art form entered the technological age, and many artists now work partly or exclusively in digital form, using photo processing programs to merge and transform scanned or digitally created images, letters, and other materials. Another, related trend is that of altered books, in which artists transform whole books by painting, rebinding, stamping, or creating collages on their pages.
Collage for Fun vs. Profit
Although at various points in its history collage has been disparaged as being mostly a pursuit for children, or for those with no drafting skills, there is certainly room in the contemporary art world for serious collage artists. Collage artworks are displayed in galleries and museums, reviewed by critics and sold to collectors. It is also becoming more and more common for hobby artists to sell their work at craft fairs or through online retailers who specialize in promoting independent goods. One important step for any collage artist to take before attempting to make this transition is to research whether and how the concept of fair use and the tenets of copyright law apply to their art if it incorporates existing work.
Bibliography
Brommer, Gerald F. Collage Techniques: A Guide for Artists and Illustrators. Watson-Guptill Publications, 1994.
Busch, Dennis, et al., editors. The Age of Collage: Contemporary Collage in Modern Art. Translated by Steven Lindberg, Gestalten, 2013.
Evans, John. Collages. Quantuck Lane Press, 2005.
Michel, Karen. The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery: Mixed-Media Techniques for Collage, Altered Books, Artist Journals, and More. Quarry Books, 2005.
Taylor, Brandon. Collage: The Making of Modern Art. Thames & Hudson, 2004.