Description
What is Dada?
Book Summary
This essay-manifesto, written by Theo van Doesburg, co-founder of Neoplasticism, offers a direct and essential look at the Dadaist movement. Originally published in 1923, the text not only explains the foundations of Dada but presents it as a disruptive force in the art and culture of its time. A key work for understanding the historical avant-gardes from the pen of one of its most active protagonists.
What is it about?
The book collects the pamphlet that van Doesburg used to introduce and defend Dadaism in the Netherlands. Far from being a cold academic analysis, the text retains the provocative and anti-art spirit of the movement. Through combative and lucid prose, the author dismantles established artistic conventions, explains the Dadaist rejection of logic and reason, and defends chaos and chance as creative tools. It is both a declaration of principles and a scathing critique of bourgeois society and the institutionalized art of the early 20th century.
Main themes
- Definition and essence of the Dadaist movement.
- Radical critique of artistic and cultural conventions.
- Chance, absurdity, and provocation as creative methods.
- The relationship between Dada and other avant-garde movements (such as De Stijl).
- The manifesto as a literary genre and tool for agitation.
Who is it recommended for?
For students and art history enthusiasts, especially those interested in the historical avant-gardes of the 20th century. Also for readers seeking to understand the roots of conceptual art and performance, as well as those who enjoy polemical and foundational texts written by the artists themselves.
What this book offers
- Direct access to a primary source of Dadaism, written by a witness and key actor of the movement.
- Understanding of the philosophical and aesthetic principles that broke with traditional art.
- A contextualized view of how avant-garde ideas spread in interwar Europe.
- A short but dense text, ideal for an intense and revealing read.
Technical specifications
- Author: van Doesburg, Theo
- Publisher: Casimiro Libros
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: ART HISTORY / ART AND DESIGN STYLES, LITERARY ESSAYS
- Collection: ART
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: June 2018
- Number of pages: 88
- Weight: 95 g
Editorial review
This is a historical document of great value for specialists and curious readers alike. The Casimiro Libros edition recovers a foundational text that, despite its brevity, condenses the provocative and transformative essence of Dada. Its interest lies in offering the direct voice of a protagonist, moving away from later interpretations. Recommended for those seeking an authentic and formative reading experience regarding one of the most influential movements in modern art.