Klaus vom Bruch (1952) - Lautstärke

Lautstärke (1990) by Klaus vom Bruch presents a striking, media-reflective image based on the iconic figure of Charlie Chaplin in his role as the dictator Adenoid Hynkel from the historic film The Great Dictator (1940). By appropriating this instantly recognizable cinematic image, vom Bruch transforms it into a meditation on mass media, political imagery, and the power of visual reproduction.

The portrait appears as if captured from a broadcast or technical monitoring system, reinforced by calibration markings and graphic overlays. This aesthetic, reminiscent of analog video, test screens, or transmission stills, is central to vom Bruch’s practice, where he investigates the mechanisms of perception, image control, and the construction of meaning through media.

The use of Chaplin’s satirical portrayal of Adolf Hitler adds a powerful historical and conceptual layer. It connects early cinematic critique of propaganda with late 20th-century media theory, making the work particularly relevant within discourses on political imagery and visual culture.

Klaus vom Bruch is a key figure in German media and video art, working in dialogue with artists such as Nam June Paik, Wolf Vostell, Gary Hill, Marcel Odenbach, Ulrike Rosenbach, and Harun Farocki. His work also resonates with broader conceptual and photographic practices associated with Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Ruff, Andreas Gursky, Cindy Sherman, John Baldessari, Bruce Nauman, Douglas Gordon, and Bill Viola, among others.


Condition
Very good condition. Colours are strong and vibrant. Paper is clean, with only minimal signs of handling or storage at the margins. Overall, well preserved.

excellent condition. sold unframed. due to size sold in extra wide roller tube.