Talk:Marcel Duchamp

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[edit] How many official works?

I received an email from someone and he inquired as to how many official works Duchamp produced during circa 1908 to 1923. Does anybody know and would it not be worth posting in the article? Thanks! --LAgurl (talk) 09:26, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] French

Is it really significant that 'échecs' (chess) is also French for 'failure'? I can't see why.

[edit] Urinal

wasn't the idea behind to urinal to challenge conceptions of what constituted art? -- the idea being that it was, essentially, just a urinal. But because it was signed and 'displayed, it became a piece of art. -- user:Tarquin

Recent research has shown that almost all of his so-called 'found' art was actually created by him. His urinal, while appearing to be a standard item, actually is not functional at all and was made from his own design. It seems that Duchamp was making a joke within a joke, by pretending that he was offering everyday items as art. I'll try to find the reference and add it into the article. -Willmcw 23:32, 28 Dec 2004 (UTC)
That's interesting if true.
Nevertheless, as User:Tarquin says, the artist's assertion and the placing of a readymade in a gallery context is part of what makes the object 'art'. I have a suspicion that Duchamp may have said something of the sort, and similar comments have been made by other artists down the age - recently Tracey Emin's My Bed in the 1999 Turner Prize was defended on these grounds.
With the urinal, Duchamp also displayed it turned around and mounted horizontally. This and the title Fountain encourage the viewer to see the 'found' object in a new light (when visiting the urinals in many pubs, I'm often reminded of Duchamp's Fountain and the joke that 'pubs don't sell beer, they just rent it'.)
As I understand it, it is this shift of meaning from representation and the intention of the artist to the interpretation of the viewer, which is part of the lasting significance of Duchamp's work. -- Solipsist 09:32, 29 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Well said. -Willmcw 09:53, 29 Dec 2004 (UTC)
I don't believe that Duchamp 'created' his found objects. This is mainly based on the inability to find identical objects (how hard did you look?). There is quite a lot of evidence, in fact, that he didn't create them. Any number of artists and friends of his were present when he purchased them. Though it *would* be interesting if he had, I think it's a flight of fancy, and frankly, beside the point. -- Sigma-6 21:11, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
It is also based, in the case of Fountain, on the fact that the object is supposedly not functional. -Willmcw 21:59, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
(I've heard that too many times without the evidence of its nonfunctionality produced. To me that remains a rumour) It remains beside the point. In his own words; "Whether Mr. Mutt with his own hands made the fountain or not has no importance. He CHOSE it. He took an ordinary article of life, placed it so that its useful significance disappeared under a new title and point of view -- created a new thought for that object." Though I see your point, and it certainly does seem 'Duchampian' to make a statement like that (confounding the art world by contradicting himself in a comment on it), and yeah, if it were true it would be interesting, my point is, I've heard it a hundred times, but show me *how, why, where, and who checked*. No-one ever has. -- Sigma-6 05:55, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
I am not sure how many people are aware of this, but claims regarding the nonfunctionality of fountain are dubious at best. The only evidence we have regarding the nature of the object put forth for inclusion in the Society of Independent Artists exhibition is the photograph taken of the item by Alfred Stieglitz. The exact details of its whereabouts during and immediately after the exhibition are unclear to say the least. Various accounts place it behind a partition in the exhibition, in a skip after it finished (or possibly before), and being taken home by Walter Arensberg himself. The only thing that is known about this "original" is that it was eventually lost. (I must confess that I am amused by the idea that Arensberg hauled this ceramic and iron lump home, only to loose it soon after. How exactly does one misplace a urinal?) The ones that one sees in museums today are (for the most part) not only non-functional, but were never intended to function. In 1964, in partnership with the dealer and his cataloguer, Arturo Schwarz, an edition of eight (plus 2 non-numbered) “Fountains” were produced and offered for sale through the Schwarz Gallery in Milan. In addition to “Fountain,” virtually all of Duchamp’s readymades were offered in similar editions of eight, with (I believe) the full set available for $2,000. Industrial draughtsmen were commissioned to create the preparatory drawings required for these “authorized” editions. (This is all in the Schwarz’s The Complete Works of Marcel Duchamp: Revised and Expanded Paperback Edition, Ref# 345d (fountain), & #603-605 (the preparatory drawings))
I think I know the confusion of the found vs. created readymades. Duchamp didn't particularly value the ready-made objects and tended to throw or give them away. So in the early 1960s he had a series of replica custom-made (because toilets, snow shovels, etc. no longer looked liked they did when he originally did the ready-mades) for display in museums. A bit ironic that the ready-made we see in the museum is actually a limited-edition custom-made object. - Ethan Ham

[edit] Gay?

Duchamp is not gay. glbtq: encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, & queer culture:

  • "Despite the provocative and explicit nature of his work, Duchamp valued the "beauty of indifference" in his private life. His enormous personal charm and easy-going nature attracted many female lovers but few passionate attachments. A brief marriage in 1927 shocked his friends and ended quickly in divorce. A second marriage to Alexina (Teeny) Sattler in 1954 lasted the rest of his life."

Hyacinth 04:31, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

-- Dpayne1912 06:55, 4 March 2006 (UTC) I assume this statement is meant to be funny: "Duchamp enjoyed the companioniship of many women". "Funny" is not, however, our goal. Is there any evidence of his enjoyment? Is there any evidence of "many" women (or only two or three)? It is, in fact, almost easier to argue that the incorrect word in this sentence is "Duchamp". Perhaps the easiest editorial correction is to simply point out that "Pablo Picasso enjoyed the company of many women" -- though it is, perhaps, more relevant to remind our readers that "Duchamp also did not enjoy the company of many women" -- which, in order to force the issue, I have just done.
It was not intended to be funny. It was intended to convey that Duchamp had many female lovers over the course of his life. I may have written it over euphamistically perhaps, but humor was not intended.
Whether he enjoyed his experiences with his many lovers or not, I can't think of any references for that. He did keep going back for more. According to Tompkins there is evidence of many - Sarazin-Lavassor, Teeny, Picabia's ex, Maria Martins, Mary Reynolds, Yvonne Chastel with whom he had a daughter, Beatrice Wood, and more. (Tompkins, Calvin (1996). Duchamp: A Biography, U.S.: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. ISBN 0-8050-5789-7.)
Tompkins does not tell of any male lovers or hint of any action in that direction.
Is the problem relevance? Wording? Evidence?
>>sparkit|TALK<< 15:57, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Duchamp did enjoy the [sexual] companionship of many women. There is one such occasion documented. In the "Ephemerides" section of "Marcel Duchamp: Work and Life" (The MIT Press, 1993, ISBN 0-262-08225-X) the entry for July 31, 1924 describes an orgy that Duchamp had with three women, Yvonne Chastel, Mimi, and Jeanne. The next day Duchamp indicated to Henri Pierre Roche that he did enjoy it. Certa 20:20, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Little Known Fact: Mary Reynolds was involved with Duchamp for several years, interrupted by his brief marriage to Lydie Saracin-Lavassor in 1927. Their relatioship was not an average one in the 1930's, as he pursued a sex life outside of the relationship and urged Reynolds to follow. However, it is well known that their relationship was indeed emotional and physical. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.179.78.140 (talk) 18:27, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] oops

earlier I added a todo (* needs mention of the scandal of "The Nude Descending a Staircase" at the Armory Show. --sparkit 05:29, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)), but I'd skimmed over the section -- it's already there. Off to bed for me! --sparkit 05:40, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Fountain

Another pun on R.Mutt, R stood for Richard, french slang for moneybags. The urinal was also bought from Mott Works. The comic characters Mutt and Jeff were also supposidly influences on the false identity. Duchamp originally submitted the work to an Independant Artists Gallery (which he was a director of) to agitate the people responsable for hanging the art, (Duchamp hated the organization of the Gallery). Even though he (R.Mutt) paid the full price entitling him to 2 exhibits they wouldnt display Fountain, and so (after briefly losing the work) Duchamp wrote an articile in defence of "R.Mutt"

Duchamp also stated that the act of chosing the object was the artists work, and its title also made the object an artwork.

[edit] Alexina Duchamp

Someone please add/incorporate her into the article. -Feydey 20:33, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

Done. Thanks! -->>sparkit|TALK<< 21:01, July 15, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Maria Martins?

What about his relationship with Maria Martins being named among the women? Wasn't Etant Donnés originally dedicated to her? If nothing else, that makes her significant. -LE


Yes, Calvin Tomkin book about Duchamp has a chapter called Maria. He did some other pieces using her as model, muse and sometimes, mold. -OF

[edit] Vandalism?

Does anyone want to bring up the recent vandaism of 'Fountain' in the article? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10736641 --JohnDBuell 07:02, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Anarchist?

Does anyone have a source for this info?

Politically, Duchamp ... identified with Individualist Anarchism...

The influence of Stirner is well documented. As is his non-support of World War I. But, in peer-reviewed/published books is there discussion of his identifying with anarchism?

Thanks. >>sparkit|TALK<< 02:51, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

I removed it.
Was...

Political views

Politically, Duchamp opposed World War I and identified with Individualist Anarchism, in particular with Max Stirner's philosophical tract The Ego and Its Own, the study of which Duchamp considered the turning point in his artistic and intellectual development.

The notorious antiartist seems to have made a significant break with his former concerns just when he was formulating his work, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (1915-23), which was, according to the best reconstructions that have been attempted, already in his mind several years earlier when certain commentators, perhaps most notably the Duchamp scholar Francis Naumann, believe Duchamp first encountered the work of Stirner.

>>sparkit|TALK<< 20:26, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Note

There is bad words under collaberation with surrealists.

I'm not sure that the comment about Dali, shit, and Duchamp is worthy of being here. It doesn't add anything to the understanding of Duchamp's works and legacy. It's a triviality and also is just hearsay or gossip (Dali's). Anyway, I have never heard of Verona, but I do know that the artist Piero Manzoni canned artist's shit in 1961. But really, out of place here.

[edit] images of duchamp's work

Does anyone know about the copyright status for the images representing Duchamp's work? The issue is interesting because of Duchamp's motivation in creating readymades; most of the time he already took mass produced objects, so can we safely say that his objects are not licensed themselves but representations/photographs of them are?--81.215.215.108 07:57, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

Photos would be the copyright of the photographer, unless they're outside the relevant time period or released into the public domain. As far as the objects are concerned, this is a subtle legal point. The copyright on the objects was with the manufacturer, so Duchamp may have been in breach himself (or probably would be nowadays), if his rendition did not significantly creatively alter the original to create a new work. See Damien Hirst:
In 2000, Hirst's sculpture Hymn (which Saatchi had bought for a reported £1m) was given pole position at the show Ant Noises (an anagram of "sensation") in the Saatchi Gallery. Hirst was then sued himself for breach of copyright over this sculpture, which was a 20ft six ton enlargement of his son Connor's 14" Young Scientist Anatomy Set designed by Norman Emms, 10,000 of which are sold a year by Hull-based toy manufacturer Humbrol for £14.99 each. Hirst paid an undisclosed sum to two charities, Children Nationwide and the Toy Trust in an out-of-court settlement.
Tyrenius 12:00, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

Note however, that copyright generally only applies to 'creative' works. AFIK many everyday objects wouldn't qualify for copyright protection. However, in the UK at least, there is the related concept of a Registered Design which is more similar to patent protection. In the case of Duchamp's Fountain, it is plausible that the underlying urinal would not be copyrightable, although most photographs of the recreated Fountains would chose to include the R. Mutt signature which could easily count as a creative element and make copyright applicable. In other instances of art works including readymades it could be the general assemblage that would be considered creative. To complicate things further, French copyright law is notably more encompassing than in most territories and has few of the common exceptions, so you would need an international copyright lawyer to be sure.

Also as Tyrenius says, a photograph would also be copyrighted in itself, which would be a problem unless it was old enough for copyright to have expired (unlikely for most Duchamp works) or unless the photographer had was released under a free license such as GFDL. -- Solipsist 14:15, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

However, as Wikipedia is hosted in the US, it is US law we need to be concerned with. Tyrenius 14:43, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

Copyrights of Duchamp's work are managed by the Artists Rights Society. >>sparkit|TALK<< 17:45, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] French-American???

Marcel Duchamp is 100 % French and it's not because he lived in the New York that he is "French-American". He was born in Blainville (France), studied in Paris and died in Paris. And he first moved to NYC in 1913 when he was 26...

Pablo Picasso lived the bigger part of his life in France, but he is still a Spanish artist... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.234.240.81 (talk • contribs) 05:12, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Duchamp did become a naturalized American citizen, which merits the title "French-American".

Yes. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1955. It's in the article. (>>sparkit|TALK<< 01:10, 5 August 2006 (UTC))

[edit] hatnote

The hatnote on this article is very confusing to someone who is not familiar with the work ("or the musical production alias derived from the rectified readymade"). Can it be reworded to contain less dadaist jargon? -- nae'blis (talk) 16:43, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rene Clair film "Entr'acte'"

Edited the article because Marcel plays chess with Man Ray in the film, NOT Francis Picabia. There are many still images on the internet to prove this.--64.126.92.172 22:27, 21 July 2006 (UTC)Gabriela

[edit] Photo of Fountain

I can't decide where to place this photograph on this page (at the top, where it is first mentioned? Under "Readymades?") The people on this page can move it to where they think it is best suited. I also enjoyed reading this discussion page. --DavidShankBone 15:45, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Société Anonyme

I would like to raise a question regarding the first line in the "Société Anonyme" section. It begins, "Escaping service in the First World War on the pretext of a dubious heart condition..." What is/was the justification behind classifying Duchamp's heart condition as "dubious"? Most interviewers and biographers seem more than willing to take Duchamp at his word on this point. While I beleve that even Duchamp himself describes his condition as a 'minor defect,' I have yet to encounter any other reference that doubts the existance of said condition. Is there any concrete evidence for the doubt expressed in this statement?

It's now edited. >>sparkit|TALK<< 18:34, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Significant things not covered yet

* Kenetic art. Rotoreliefs-1920. Rotary demisphere-1925. He coined the term 'mobile' Mobile (sculpture).

  • Films
  • Green box and Box in a valise
  • Non-wife relationships.
  • Daughter - see Tompkins, Calvin (1996). Duchamp: A Biography. U.S.: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-5789-7.

(>>sparkit|TALK<< 18:34, 9 September 2006 (UTC))


The main article states at: "Nude Descending a Staircase (Main article: Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2)" the following: "In 1912, Duchamp painted Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (Nu duscendant un éscalier n° 2), . . ." While I have no actual knowledge of what Duchamp named the painting, I'm quite positive that there is no word "duscendant" in the French language. The correct present participle would be "descendant" in French. Eric C. 10:53, 27 Oct 2006 (UTC)

[edit] L.H.O.O.Q.

lhooq redirects here, but there's nothing about it in the article. There should be something added here, or change the redirect(s) to the Mona Lisa article. There's enough info there. --ScarletSpiderDave 09:21, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

It now redirects to Readymades of Marcel Duchamp. -->>sparkit|TALK<< 00:06, 28 November 2006 (UTC)
Oh, even better. You changed LHOOQ (all caps). I changed lhooq and l.h.o.o.q. to match. They don't seem to work right for me for some reason though. They still go here, though I pasted the same code you used. Are they not instant? Also, I'm not sure exactly how everything works, and if there are other versions of the redirect. (Gee, redirects are more complicated than I thought) --ScarletSpiderDave 10:21, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Legacy

As it stands, the "Legacy" section begins with words that aren't Duchamp's: should this bit of information be placed in this section? Also, introducing this information it states "Duchamp is usually considered to have a negative attitude to later artists who developed the ideas he had initiated" Is this accurate? Usually considered by whom? If so, it should be cited, since this does not sound accurate to me. The whole section, in fact, needs to be re-written since an excerpt of Dali's introduction to Cabanne's book and a reference to Mike Schneider (the most germane artist to bring up in this section??) do not constitute a substantial, accurate representation of Duchamp's manifold legacy. A chronological survey or reference to movements like Pop Art and artists like Sol Lewitt, I think, might be a good place to begin. Ibickerstaff 03:52, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

Go for it. --sparkitTALK 14:16, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nice article

Very nice article. I'm about to assess it as B-class in all the WikiProject tags, and add a chess WP tag, but would encourage the editors of the articles to aim for Good Article or A class, and maybe eventually make this a featured article. Carcharoth 13:05, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Enneagram?

I've been searching for a source for the claim that 'L'opposition et cases conjuguées sont réconciliées' (Opposition and Sister Squares are Reconciled) is plotted on enneagram-like charts. Can't find anything to do with the fact that it's done using enneagram-like charts. Anyone have a source for that, or can anyone find any images of it? I'd be most interested...--Jaybzjaybz 14:06, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lasker-Reichelm Position

Could someone please add a page for the Lasker-Reichelm Position? The basic position can be found at http://samuel-beckett.net/hugill.html and the solution can be found in IM David Levy's book How Computers Play Chess. -- (December 8, 2007) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.74.108.200 (talk) 23:33, 8 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] IP edits.

This page is getting quite a few repeat IP vandal edits. Wikipedia:Semi-Protection would seem a sensible way to continue if this vandalism re-occurs. ChessCreator (talk) 22:32, 25 March 2008 (UTC)