Tea Roses

1924

Kurt Schwitters

Collage on paper

23.5×18.2 cm

Collection of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tea Roses is a collage artwork created by Kurt Schwitters using various discarded papers collected from the streets. During his travels, Kurt Schwitters would carry a suitcase filled with the found trash and objects. In this abstract composition composed of distinct brown, gray, pink, and black geometric shapes, he incorporated an illustration of a rose. Another fragment indicates that it is a tea rose. This juxtaposition of reality adds a relaxed balance to the calm abstract composition. The artist creates a complex and elusive visual world, resulting in a visually impactful artistic composition.