Marcel Duchamp

The Profile

Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) was a French-American artist associated with Dada and conceptual art, known for readymades and works such as Nude Descending a Staircase and Fountain (Fontana).

Key associations: Dada, readymades, conceptual art; notable works include Fontana (Fountain), Nu Descendant Un Escalier (Nude Descending a Staircase), Rotoreliefs; author of essays such as The Creative Act.

Two user reviews on DeBaser discuss Duchamp's Fontana (described bluntly as "A toilet.") and Nu Descendant Un Escalier (an enthusiastic, wide-ranging reading linking Duchamp to Dada and critiques of Futurism). The reviews mix irony, strong opinions, and art-historical references.