Behind the arresting image of Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, the notorious “Dada Baroness” who treated cutlery drawers as jewelry boxes and stalked Manhattan streets in her startling creations, there was a creative professional who never got the attention or kudos of her male colleagues. Her early, if not pioneering use of ready-mades was just one facet of her output, which spanned both visual arts and literature. The examples below could fall into either category, being poems handwritten by the baroness in her distinctive script and embellished to varying degrees (or designs inscribed with poetry). Most of them date from the early 1920s with the exception of the last piece which was likely created in 1927, the year of Freytag-Loringhoven’s death. Body Sweats: The Uncensored Writings of Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, was published in 2011.
Further reading
Dada Baroness
Strange Flowers guide to Berlin, part 2 and part 4
Catching up
I am such miserable thing
Circles: H.D./Bryher
Circles: Natalie Clifford Barney
Circles: Fanny zu Reventlow
Pearls: Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven
Dress-down Friday: Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven
So interesting – thanks !
My pleasure!