Profession: artist

Grosz is known for his savage indictment of the effects of WW1 on German society. He shared a studio (and a taste for anglicised names) with Heartfield; together they claimed to have invented photomontage, and founded a magazine with Herzfelde, who went on to publish Grosz’s work. These three and Hausmann, Huelsenbeck and Baader formed the core of the Berlin Dada group. Dix and Kollwitz were fellow-members of a left-wing organisation, Jung worked with him on Dada publications, and Bearden was his student in the U.S. He denied who he was and slammed the door when Schwitters came to call.

An influential artist, not easily classifiable. Pissarro was an early acquaintance and influence. Laurencin and Braque were fellow-students, Laurencin reconnecting in Barcelona (where Miró met him before leaving for Paris). His close friend Apollinaire went to England with him, perhaps pursuing a woman. His lifelong friend Duchamp helped him publish a magazine; Léger, Gris, Gleizes and Metzinger were also met through Duchamp and his brothers. He collaborated with Satie and Clair, was exhibited by Stieglitz, and knew Tzara, Aragon and Breton via surrealist circles, later writing an anti-Breton manifesto. Richter compared meeting him to “the experience of death.”

The novelist White befriended him when living in London in the 1930’s, and commissioned some furniture from him. Spender was a good friend; Bacon gave him some sketches. Freud was a Soho drinking companion. During the 1950’s Bacon followed a lover to Tangier and befriended Ginsberg and Burroughs. While Giacometti was organising an exhibition in London shortly before his death, Bacon met him several times; he had a strong regard for Giacometti’s drawings. Visiting Paris frequently during the 1970’s, he painted a portrait of his friend Leiris. Hamilton, Appel and Boyle were all artist friends.

Clemente and Boetti met in Rome and travelled together in Afghanistan. He collaborated with Warhol and Basquiat on a series of paintings, with Mathews on a book about masturbation, and with Creeley (a number of times).

Chagall, Soutine, Laurens, Lipchitz, Jacob, Cendrars and Reverdy were among those he met when he first lived in Paris. He used to meet Duchamp, Gleizes, Metzinger and Delaunay at Villon’s house. He watched Chaplin films with Apollinaire, contributed to a film of Richter’s, crossed Spain with Le Corbusier, and set up an art school with Ozenfant (Exter and Laurencin also taught, with Francis among the students). Cendrars, Milhaud and Massine collaborated, Eisenstein corresponded extensively, and Man Ray helped on a film. He stayed with Dos Passos, and worked with fellow-communists Éluard and Aragon.

Guérin taught him. His fellow-student and good friend Géricault’s success encouraged him in his own brand of romanticism. He met Bonington making studies in the Louvre, and went with him to England. Chopin was a close friend, discussing counterpoint and riding together around the Champs Élysées, but Delacroix dismissed Sand’s writing. He was a member of Gautier’s Club des Haschischins, along with Dumas, Nerval and his close friend and admirer Baudelaire. Mérimée wrote of a brothel visit with him, Musset and Stendhal. He was friends with Balzac and Arago, and admired and owned paintings by Daumier.