Tristan Tzara

A Romanian-born French poet and essayist, he is renowned as a founder of Dada, a nihilistic and revolutionary movement in the arts. His early works, including manifestos and foundational Dadaist texts, aimed to shock and dismantle linguistic structures. In Paris, he engaged in tumultuous activities designed to provoke the public. Around 1930, disillusioned with nihilism, he turned towards Surrealism and political engagement, which brought him closer to humanity. His later lyrical poetry explores the anguish of the human condition, caught between revolt and wonder, replacing Dada's chaotic wordplay with a challenging yet humanized language.