Dadaism: the forerunner of conceptual art A precursor to Surrealism, the Dada movement stressed the absurd and unpredictable, the illogical and chaotic, lashing out against traditional esthetics and upending artistic conventions. Emerging from the artistic and intellectual milieu of Zurich during World War I, it signaled a re-evaluation of art's cultural relevance in the shadow of industrialized war. Jean Arp, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray were among the most famous proponents of Dada, creating works that dared viewers to expand their notions of what might be considered art. This book explains the impulses and theories that gave rise to Dada, the forerunner of conceptual art.

Featured artists: Max Ernst, George Grosz, John Heartfield, Johannes Baader, Hannah Höch, Raoul Hausmann, Kurt Schwitters, Johannes Theodor Baargeld, Hans Arp, Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, Tristan Tzara, Man Ray

About the Series: Every book in TASCHEN's Basic Art Series features: a detailed chronological summary of the artist's life and work, covering the cultural and historical importance of the artist approximately 100 color illustrations with explanatory captions a concise biography

About the author: Dietmar Elger studied art history, history and literature at the University of Hamburg. In 1984-85, he was secretary of Gerhard Richter's studio, in 1986–2006 curator for painting and sculpture at the Sprengel Museum, Hanover. He has organised numerous exhibitions on modern and contemporary art, and headed the Gerhard Richter Archive at the Dresden State Art Collections since 2006. His TASCHEN titles include Expressionism and Dadaism.