Marcel Duchamp

Date of Birth: July 28, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: October 2, 1968

Biography

Marcel Duchamp was a pioneering French-American artist known for his influence on the Dada and Surrealist movements. Born on July 28, 1887, in Blainville-Crevon, France, Duchamp came from a family of artists, which included his brothers Jacques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon, both of whom were also prominent figures in the art world. Duchamp’s work challenged traditional notions of art and aesthetics, emphasizing the intellectual and conceptual over the purely visual. In 1913, Duchamp created his first “readymade” sculpture, “Bicycle Wheel,” which consisted of a bicycle wheel mounted on a stool. This work marked the beginning of his exploration into the use of everyday objects as art. His most famous readymade, “Fountain” (1917), a porcelain urinal signed “R. Mutt,” defied conventional art norms and became a seminal piece in the history of modern art. Duchamp moved to New York in 1915, where he became a central figure in the American avant-garde scene. Throughout his career, he continued to experiment with various forms of art, including painting, sculpture, and film. He was also a chess enthusiast and spent much of his later life playing and studying the game. Duchamp passed away on October 2, 1968, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. His legacy continues to influence contemporary artists and thinkers, making him one of the most significant figures in 20th-century art.

5 Interesting Facts about Marcel Duchamp

1. Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2” (1912) caused a scandal at the 1913 Armory Show in New York, but it also solidified his reputation as a leading avant-garde artist.

2. He coined the term “readymade” to describe his works made from ordinary, pre-existing objects.

3. Duchamp once altered a reproduction of the “Mona Lisa” by adding a mustache and goatee, titling the work “L.H.O.O.Q.”

4. He was a founding member of the Société Anonyme, an organization dedicated to promoting modern art in America.

5. Duchamp was an accomplished chess player and even competed in international chess tournaments.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Marcel Duchamp

1. “I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.”

2. “Art is either plagiarism or revolution.”

3. “I don’t believe in art. I believe in artists.”

4. “The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.”

5. “All in all, the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures are difficult to ascertain, Marcel Duchamp’s net worth at the height of his career is estimated to have been substantial due to the sale of his works and his influence within the art world. Today, his pieces fetch millions at auctions.