Marcel Duchamp

Duchamp often appeared in photos as his female alter ego "Rose Selavy" during this time and also appeared in some films, most notably director Rene Clair's "Entracte" in which he is seen playing chess with Man Ray. He also appeared in his own "Anemic Cinema" in 1926, made with Ray and director Marc Allegret. During this time, he had more or less abandoned art for chess, although the "Large Glass" was being exhibited in the United States. His chess career often proved to be illustrious, as he became a member of the French Olympic team at The Hague and was appointed the French delegate to the International Chess Federation in 1932.

In 1933, He took part in the "Exposition Surrealiste" at the Galerie Pierre Colle and, in 1935, devised his "Boite-en-valise," a collection of miniature reproductions of his paintings and Readymades that fit into a small case. Duchamp exhibited his works several times at surrealist shows and one-man exhibits, but offered few new works of significance.

It wasn't until a year after his death in 1968 that his next major work was shown: an installation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled "Etant Donnes: 1. La Chute d'eau, 2. La Gaz d'eclairage (Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas)," a mixed-media assemblage he began in 1946 and worked on until his death. It is a striking tableau featuring a naked female figure with her hand on an old gas lamp that leaves a surreal aura whose interpretation is indeed peculiar to each viewer.

On the Net, the best site for exploring Duchamp's work is the outstanding "Encounter With Marcel Duchamp" which features excellent representations of all his major works, a page devoted to the "Large Glass," sound files, a bio and more. See the link on the right of this page.

-Nick Burton

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