Human Generated Data

Title

Merz 4: Banalitaeten

Date

1923

People

-

Classification

Books

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Busch-Reisinger Museum, Gift of Charles L. Kuhn, BR58.196

Human Generated Data

Title

Merz 4: Banalitaeten

Date

1923

Classification

Books

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Busch-Reisinger Museum, Gift of Charles L. Kuhn, BR58.196

Machine Generated Data

Tags

Amazon
created on 2021-12-15

Text 99.6
Number 92.7
Symbol 92.7
Paper 87
Advertisement 73.2
Flyer 70
Brochure 70
Sign 58.2

Clarifai
created on 2023-10-15

no person 99
paper 98.7
warning 97.4
text 95.9
retro 95.7
typography 95.1
vintage 94.6
caveat 92.2
sign 90.2
administration 90.2
business 89.9
document 89.1
bill 89
writing 88.8
old 88.4
page 86.8
signalise 86.7
inspiration 83.9
information 83.1
cardboard 82.9

Imagga
created on 2021-12-15

carton 71.3
container 55.4
box 53.5
book jacket 35.1
paper 33.2
jacket 27.4
envelope 23
wrapping 22.7
grunge 19.6
sign 18.8
vintage 16.8
old 16.7
business 16.4
retro 16.4
message 15.5
texture 15.3
covering 14.6
post 14.3
text 14
document 13.9
card 13.9
mail 13.4
word 13.2
page 13
antique 13
empty 12.9
letter 12.8
symbol 12.8
design 12.4
blank 12
note 12
brown 11.8
parchment 11.5
office 11.3
newspaper 11.1
aged 10.9
faded 10.7
grungy 10.4
ancient 10.4
finance 10.1
stamp 10
showing 9.4
money 9.4
communication 9.2
pattern 8.9
correspondence 8.8
cardboard 8.6
warning 8.6
damaged 8.6
wall 8.6
art 8.3
dirty 8.1
object 8.1
ragged 7.8
notice 7.8
postcard 7.7
worn 7.6
write 7.5
element 7.4
material 7.1
financial 7.1
board 7
textured 7

Google
created on 2021-12-15

Microsoft
created on 2021-12-15

text 100
book 94.4
poster 94.3
sign 90.8
font 82.6
handwriting 78.4
typography 70.2
pole 51.4

Color Analysis

Feature analysis

Amazon

Poster

Clarifai

Poster

AWS Rekognition

Poster 54.9%

Clarifai

Poster 94.5%

Categories

Imagga
created on 2021-12-15

text visuals 94.1%
paintings art 5.7%

Captions

Microsoft
created by unknown on 2021-12-15

a close up of a sign 96.5%
a sign on a pole 87.5%
a sign over a book 78.4%

Clarifai

Created by general-english-image-caption-clip on 2025-07-14

a poster for the book.

Salesforce

Created by general-english-image-caption-blip on 2025-05-15

a photograph of a poster of a poster of a man in a suit

OpenAI GPT

Created by gpt-4o-2024-11-20 on 2025-06-14

This image is the cover of MERZ, a Dadaist magazine created by Kurt Schwitters, issue number 4 titled "BANALITÄTEN" (Banalities), dated July 1923. The design is minimalist and heavily typographic, which reflects the avant-garde aesthetics of Dada art and typography.

Key Elements:

  1. Bold Typography:

    • The word "MERZ" prominently appears at the top in bold, black sans-serif letters.
    • Below that, "4" appears styled as part of the title alongside "BANALITÄTEN," again using bold typography for emphasis.
  2. Text in Multiple Languages:

    • French text at the top: "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde." ("MERZ is the most foolish journal in the world.")
    • German text: "Aus dem Inhalt: Malespine, Rellilsverse, saci Pos. Rietveld. Chaoplasma. Typographie usw." ("From the content: Malespine, Rellilsverse, saci Pos. Rietveld. Chaoplasma. Typography etc.")
  3. Quotation and Attribution:

    • A boxed text features a quote from renowned Dadaist Tristan Tzara:
      "va cultiver ses vices." / "Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben." ("Cultivate your vices." / "Always keep your feet on the ground.") alongside the name BLUEMNER.
  4. Publication Information:

    • Publisher: "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5."
    • Date: "Juli 1923."
  5. Illustration:

    • A small, cryptic illustration resembling a hand or sculpture appears in the lower left corner.

Aesthetic and Historical Context:

This cover reflects Schwitters' experimental approach to merging art, text, and design. MERZ magazine was central to his conceptual art practice involving collage and the recontextualization of everyday elements to create something artistic—embracing banality as suggested by the title. Both Dadaist values and Schwitters' personal innovations are evident in this chaotic yet structured layout design.

Created by gpt-4o-2024-08-06 on 2025-06-14

The image is the cover of a publication titled "MERZ 4," with the subtitle "BANALITÄTEN." The design is minimalistic, with bold, black text on a plain background. At the top, the text reads "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde," which translates from French to "MERZ is the silliest journal in the world." Next to this is "Aus dem Inhalt:" followed by a list of names or terms including "Malespine," "Relliverse," "saci Pos.," "Rietveld," "Chaoplasma," "Typographie usw."

Below the main title "MERZ 4," the word "BANALITÄTEN" is featured prominently. Underneath this is text that reads "UNTER —— TAILLE."

There is a framed section with text that appears to be a quote or a reference to "Tristan Tzara," a notable figure associated with Dadaism. The text reads: "Tristan Tzara / Bluemner. va cultiver ses vices. Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben."

At the bottom, the publication date "JULI 1923" is mentioned, along with the editorial information: "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5 II." There is also an image of a hand with an extended index finger on the left side of this line.

Overall, the design reflects the Dadaist movement's characteristics, emphasizing experimental typography and unconventional layout.

Anthropic Claude

Created by anthropic.claude-3-haiku-20240307-v1:0 on 2025-06-18

The image appears to be the cover of a German magazine or publication called "MERZ 4". The large text "MERZ 4" dominates the center of the image, with the subtitle "BANALITATEN" (Banalities) below it. There is additional text in German that provides information about the publication, including the editor's name and address. The overall design has a vintage, textured aesthetic.

Created by us.anthropic.claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022-v2:0 on 2025-06-18

This is the cover of MERZ magazine, issue 4, from July 1923. The cover features bold typography with "MERZ" in large black letters at the top, followed by "4 BANALITÄTEN" (meaning "4 Banalities" in German). The magazine was edited by Kurt Schwitters in Hannover, Germany.

The cover includes text in multiple languages:

  • French: "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde" (MERZ is the most foolish journal in the world)
  • German and French mixed content in the header mentioning "Malespine, Rellisverse, sacl Pos, Rietveld, Chaoplasma, Typographie"
  • A quote from Tristan Tzara in French and German

The design is minimalist and typical of the Dada art movement, with strong typography and a simple layout on a beige/tan background. At the bottom of the cover is the publication information including Schwitters' address in Hannover.

The overall aesthetic reflects the avant-garde artistic movements of the early 1920s, particularly Dada and Constructivism, which often used bold typography and minimalist design elements.

Meta Llama

Created by us.meta.llama3-2-11b-instruct-v1:0 on 2025-06-09

The image presents a vintage cover of a German-language journal, featuring a distinctive design and layout.

Title and Layout:

  • The title "MERZ" is prominently displayed in large black letters, occupying most of the top half of the cover.
  • Below the title, the number "4" is written in smaller black letters, followed by the word "BANALITATEN" in larger black letters.
  • A smaller text section is situated below the title, containing the name "TRISTAN TZARA" and a quote in French.

Additional Text:

  • In the top-left corner, the phrase "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde" is written in small black letters.
  • In the top-right corner, the text "Aus dem Inhalt:" is followed by a list of topics in smaller black letters.
  • At the bottom of the cover, the date "JULI 1923" is displayed, accompanied by the phrase "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES:" and the names "KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5" in smaller black letters.

Design Elements:

  • A small black illustration of a hand holding a pen or pencil is located in the bottom-left corner of the cover.
  • The background of the cover features a light brown color with a subtle texture, giving it an aged appearance.

Overall:

The image showcases a unique and intriguing design, with a mix of bold typography and smaller text elements. The use of a light brown background and subtle texture adds to the vintage aesthetic, suggesting that the journal was published in the early 20th century.

Created by us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0 on 2025-06-09

The image depicts the cover of a vintage German magazine, likely from the early 20th century. The title "MERZ" is prominently displayed in large black letters at the top, with the number "4" below it and the word "BANALITATEN" underneath. A smaller text box contains the name "TRISTAN TZARA" and additional information.

At the bottom of the cover, there is a logo featuring a hand with the index finger raised, accompanied by the text "JULI 1923 REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5." The background of the cover is a light brown color, giving it an aged appearance. Overall, the image suggests that the magazine is focused on art, literature, or culture, and may have been published during the Dadaist movement.

Amazon Nova

Created by amazon.nova-lite-v1:0 on 2025-06-08

The image is a cover page of a magazine named "MERZ." The magazine's name is printed in large black letters on the cover, and the number "4" is printed below it. The cover also includes the text "Banalitaten" in a smaller font below the magazine's name. The magazine cover is printed on a beige background, and the text is printed in black. The magazine's content is listed below the magazine's name, including "Malespine," "Rellsverse," "sac'i Pos," "Rletveld," "Chaoplasma," and "Typographie usw." The magazine cover also includes a small logo in the bottom left corner.

Created by amazon.nova-pro-v1:0 on 2025-06-08

The image is a poster advertisement for the journal "MERZ." The poster has a beige background with black text and a small black illustration at the bottom left corner. The title "MERZ" is prominently displayed in large, bold, uppercase letters at the top of the poster. Below the title, there is a subtitle in smaller text that reads "4 BANALITÉN," which translates to "4 banalities" in English.

The poster also includes a date at the bottom, "JULI 1923," indicating that it was published in July 1923. There is a mention of "TRISTAN TZARA" and "va cultiver ses vices," which suggests that Tristan Tzara, a prominent Dadaist artist and writer, is associated with the content. The phrase "va cultiver ses vices" translates to "will cultivate his vices," which could be a playful or provocative statement.

Additionally, there is a small illustration of a hand giving a thumbs up at the bottom left corner of the poster, which adds a whimsical touch to the overall design. The poster also includes the address of the publisher, "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGS: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTRASSE 5," providing information about where the journal can be obtained.

The design of the poster is simple yet effective, with bold typography and minimal imagery, which aligns with the avant-garde and Dadaist aesthetic of the time. The use of French and German text, along with the reference to Tristan Tzara, suggests that the journal has an international and avant-garde focus.

Google Gemini

Created by gemini-2.0-flash on 2025-05-09

Here's a description of the image:

Overall Impression:
The image is a scan of a vintage magazine cover with a beige background and heavy use of black typography. It has a somewhat aged and textured appearance.

Text Elements:

  • The word "MERZ" dominates the cover in large, bold, sans-serif letters.
  • Below "MERZ" is the number "4".
  • Underneath that is "BANALITÄTEN" in bold, uppercase letters.
  • The text "UNTER--- TAILLE." is located above the word "BANALITÄTEN."
  • At the bottom is "JULI 1923" followed by publication information: "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5""
  • There is a framed text box containing:
    • "TRISTAN TZARA"
    • "va cultiver ses vices. / BLUEMNER."
    • "Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben."
  • At the top, there are lines: "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde." and "Aus dem Inhalt: Malespine. Rellisverse. saci Pos. Rietveld. Chaoplasma. Typographie usw."

Graphical Elements:

  • In the lower-left corner, there is a stylized illustration of a hand making a gesture (possibly a fist with the index finger pointing upward).

Style and Composition:

  • The overall style is reminiscent of early 20th-century avant-garde typography, particularly Dada and Constructivism.
  • The composition is asymmetrical and text-heavy.
  • The cover has a somewhat raw and unrefined aesthetic.

In essence, it is a magazine cover featuring prominent text, a hand illustration, and information about the publication and editor.

Created by gemini-2.0-flash-lite on 2025-05-09

Here is a description of the image:

The image is a cover for the "MERZ" magazine, which is a Dadaist journal edited by Kurt Schwitters. The cover has a vintage, aged appearance with a light beige background. Bold, black typography dominates the design.

Main Elements:

  • Title: The word "MERZ" is prominently displayed in large, blocky black letters across the top. Beneath it is the number "4" in a similar font style.

  • Subtitle: Below "MERZ 4" is the German title "BANALITÄTEN" in a slightly smaller, but still prominent font.

  • Text Blocks: There are other text blocks:

    • At the top, there are phrases in both French and German: "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde." (French: MERZ is the silliest journal in the world) and a list of the contents in German.
    • There is a short quote by Tristan Tzara in a rectangular box and further text that seems to be German.
    • At the bottom the details are given: "JULI 1923 REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5".
  • Hand Symbol: A silhouetted hand making the "OK" or "Thumbs Up" gesture, is located in the bottom left corner.

Overall Impression:

The design is characteristic of Dadaist aesthetics, with its use of bold typography, unconventional layout, and satirical tone. The vintage look of the cover suggests it is a historical piece. It is likely that the image is from a Dada magazine or related to the Dada art movement.

Mistral Pixtral

Created by us.mistral.pixtral-large-2502-v1:0 on 2025-06-01

The image is a cover of the July 1923 issue of "Merz," a Dadaist magazine founded by German artist Kurt Schwitters. The cover prominently features the name "MERZ" in large, bold, black letters. Below "MERZ," the issue number "4" is displayed in a similarly bold font. The word "BANALITÄTEN" (which translates to "banalities" in English) is also featured in large, bold letters.

There is a subtitle that reads "UNTER — — TAILLE," which appears to be a play on words or a Dadaist phrase. The cover also includes a section dedicated to Tristan Tzara, a key figure in the Dada movement, with the text "TRISTAN TZARA va cultiver ses vices. / BLUEMNER. Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben." This translates to "Tristan Tzara will cultivate his vices. / BLUEMNER. Always keep your feet on the ground."

At the bottom of the cover, there is a small illustration of a sculpture on a pedestal. The text below the illustration reads "JULI 1923 REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5II," indicating the issue's publication date and the editor's address.

The top of the cover includes a statement in French and German: "MERZ est le journal le plus sot du monde. Aus dem Inhalt: Malespine. Reillsverse. sacl Pos. Rietveld. Chaoplasma. Typographie usw." This translates to "MERZ is the silliest journal in the world. Contents: Malespine. Reillsverse. sacl Pos. Rietveld. Chaoplasma. Typography etc."

The design and typography reflect the experimental and avant-garde nature of the Dada movement, characterized by its playful and unconventional approach to art and literature.

Qwen

Created by Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct on 2025-07-10

This image appears to be the cover of a publication titled "MERZ," which is identified as the "world's silliest journal." The cover features bold, black text on a light beige background. The main title "MERZ" is prominently displayed in large, bold letters at the top. Below the title is the edition number "4" and the subtitle "BANALITÄTEN," suggesting the theme or subject matter of this particular issue.

In the center, there is a box with text mentioning Tristan Tzara, followed by a quote: "va cultiver ses vices. / BLUENNER. Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben." This translates to "grow your vices. / BLUENNER. Keep your feet on the ground."

At the bottom, it states "JULI 1923," indicating the month and year of publication, and "REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5 1/1," which provides the editorial office location and contact information.

The design includes a small illustration of a hand giving a "rock on" sign in the bottom left corner. The overall aesthetic is minimalist and artistic, consistent with avant-garde or experimental art movements of the early 20th century.

Created by Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct on 2025-07-10

This image is the cover of an avant-garde art and literary journal titled "MERZ 4." The design is simple and minimalistic, typical of early 20th-century avant-garde publications. The cover has a beige, paper-like texture, and the text is arranged in a clear yet experimental layout.

Key elements of the cover include:

  • The title "MERZ" in large, bold, uppercase letters near the top.
  • The number "4" prominently displayed below "MERZ," indicating this is the fourth issue of the journal.
  • The subtitle "BANALITÄTEN" in uppercase letters, suggesting the theme or focus of this issue.
  • A smaller text box containing the name "TRISTAN TZARA" and some additional text, possibly a quote or a short description.
  • At the bottom, the date "JULI 1923" (July 1923) and the editorial information, including the name "KURT SCHWITTERS" and the address "HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5."

The cover also includes a small illustration of a hand holding what appears to be a flower or a similar object. The overall design is clean and straightforward, with a focus on typography and textual content.

Text analysis

Amazon

4
du
dem
Pos.
cultiver
JULI
DES
TRISTAN
TRISTAN TZARA
va
TZARA
plus
der
sot
Aus
le
mit
JULI 1923
BANALITÄTEN
KURT
auf
va cultiver ses vices.
Immer
Erde
MERZ est le Journal le plus sot du monde.
vices.
den
SCHWITTERS,
Aus dem Inhalt:
HANNOVER,
UNTER
1923
Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben.
REDAKTION
REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES:
MERZ
ses
est
Journal
Malespine.
monde.
WALDHAUSENSTR.
bleiben.
Chaoplasma.
usw.
MERZVERLAGES:
Inhalt:
Füßen
Rellisverse.
TAILLE.
KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5"
/ BLUEMNER.
Typographie
Malespine. Rellisverse. saci Pos. Rletveld. Chaoplasma. Typographie usw.
RZ
5"
M
Rletveld.
saci
t RZ
t

Google

MERZ est le Journal le plus sot du monde. Aus dem Inhalt: Malespine. Rellisverse. sacl Pos. Rletveld. Chaoplasma. Typographie usw. MERZ 4 UNTER - TAILLE. --- BANALITATEN TRISTAN TZARA va cultiver ses vices. Immer mit den Füßen auf der Erde bleiben. | BLUEMNER. JULI 1923 REDAKTION DES MERZVERLAGES: KURT SCHWITTERS, HANNOVER, WALDHAUSENSTR. 5"
MERZ
est
le
Journal
plus
sot
du
monde.
Aus
dem
Inhalt:
Malespine.
Rellisverse.
sacl
Pos.
Rletveld.
Chaoplasma.
Typographie
usw.
4
UNTER
-
TAILLE.
---
BANALITATEN
TRISTAN
TZARA
va
cultiver
ses
vices.
Immer
mit
den
Füßen
auf
der
Erde
bleiben.
|
BLUEMNER.
JULI
1923
REDAKTION
DES
MERZVERLAGES:
KURT
SCHWITTERS,
HANNOVER,
WALDHAUSENSTR.
5"