Marcel Duchamp's Unhappy Readymade

Currently not on view

Marcel Duchamp's Unhappy Readymade

c. 1919-1920

Attributed to Suzanne Duchamp (French, 1889–1963) Attributed to Jean Joseph Crotti (French (born Switzerland), 1878–1958)

Upon learning that his sister, Suzanne, had married the artist Jean Crotti in Paris while he was still in Argentina, Marcel Duchamp (American (born France), 1887 - 1968) sent as a wedding gift the idea of the “unhappy readymade.” He instructed them to hang a geometry book outside so that its pages would be torn apart and its text would be erased by the elements. Suzanne in turn photographed the book and later created a painting in homage to this gesture that welcomed the effects of chance and life.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

Marcel Duchamp's Unhappy Readymade

Date:

c. 1919-1920

Artists:

Attributed to Suzanne Duchamp (French, 1889–1963) Attributed to Jean Joseph Crotti (French (born Switzerland), 1878–1958)

Medium:

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

Image: 4 3/16 × 2 11/16 inches (10.7 × 6.9 cm) Sheet: 4 5/16 x 2 3/4 inches (11 x 7 cm)

Classification:

Photographs

Credit Line:

Gift of Virginia and William Camfield, 1983

Accession Number:

1983-87-1

Geography:

Photograph taken in Paris, France, Europe

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Currently not on view