Two Heads

Title: Two Heads
Artist: Hannah Hoch
Year: 1926

This is a painting by Hannah Hoch titled Two Heads (1926). It was originally titled Imaginary Bridge when it was first exhibited in Berlin in 1926. The original title is much more descriptive and helpful in interpreting the painting. The figures appear to be wooden; the one on the right represents a man and the other a woman. One source claims that this is a representation of Hoch and Raoul Haussman's stormy relationship. Haussman is known to have created similar wooden mannequin heads placed on square bases before Hoch painted this. The two figures on Haussman's neck are believed to be his wife screaming at him as he leaves her for Hoch. The message of the painting is Hoch's unfulfilled desire to have a child with Haussman. A child would make a true bridge between them.