About
Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) was a major French artist of the 20th century. He revolutionized art with his readymades, ordinary manufactured objects elevated to art by the artist's choice. His painting 'Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2' caused a sensation at the 1913 Armory Show. He created 'Fountain' (1917), a urinal signed R. Mutt, which became an iconic work. His female alter ego Rrose Sélavy marked the 1920s. His masterpiece 'The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even' (1915-1923) is housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Duchamp was also a competitive chess player.
* 1887-07-28 — † 1968-10-02
Major works
- Nu descendant un escalier n° 2 (1912)painting
- Roue de bicyclette (1913)readymade
- Fontaine (1917)readymade
- La Mariée mise à nu par ses célibataires, même (1923)work on glass
- Étant donnés (1966)installation
Key milestones
- 1913Invented the readymade with 'Bicycle Wheel'.
- 1917Presented 'Fountain', a urinal signed R. Mutt, at the Society of Independent Artists exhibition in New York.
- 1950The Philadelphia Museum of Art receives the largest Duchamp collection, bequeathed by Louise and Walter Arensberg.
Themes
ReadymadeConceptual artIrony and humorIdentity and genderChess
Sources: philamuseum.org · tate.org.uk · britannica.com