period of love

Raoul Hausmann (July 12, 1886 – February 1, 1971) was an Austrian sculptor and writer. He was one of the key figures of Dada in Berlin (moved there from Vienna). He was recognizable because of his conceptual creativity and radicalism.
But perhaps seeing him only through his political-engagement doesn’t let to understand his personality. Series of not well known photos of Vera Broido, which I have found in Berlinische Gallerie (Museum of Contemporary Art), suggests that he have also contemplative, romantic and melancholic part of his nature.

Vera Broido was born in St Petersburg in 1907, the daughter of two Russian Jewish revolutionaries. In 1914 when Vera was only seven, her mother was exiled to Western Siberia for her anti-war attitudes; so Vera boarded the Transiberian Express and set off with her mother for a place so far away that even the newspapers didn't reach her. Thanks to father she could emigrate to Germany. During her stay in Berlin she meets Hausmann becoming his model and partner between 1928 and 1934.

Their intensive relationship results in series of photos with very intimate atmosphere.

Photos focused on Vera, showing several parts of her body in very contemplative manner.

On the field of his visions of Vera, Hausmann effectuates also kind of self-observation. He was fascinating as much in Vera’s body and her being, as in his own process of seeing her and the question how this seeing determines their relation.


He has known that things are passing away very un-expectedly and that inspired him to focus on mysticism of the single moment as the only opportunity in which he was in able to feel closeness to Vera.

He explores his own voyeurism as only manner to define his feelings.

This voyeurism which could changes into obsession realize in general very sad truth about the nature of every contact between two people. In fact the moment of someone’s appearing

is pendant to her absence.