Skip to main content

Picasso Viewing Étant donnés (Half a Nothing 1.20.91)

1991
Ray Johnson (American, 1927–1995)
This print is part of a series of prints and drawings that date to the time of Ray Johnson's 1991 retrospective entitled More Works by Ray Johnson, 1951-1991, held in Philadelphia at the Goldie Paley Gallery, Moore College of Art and Design. During the preparations for his retrospective, Johnson was inspired by the proximity of his oeuvre to Marcel Duchamp's works of art on view at the Museum. He produced a number of pieces related to Duchamp's Étant donnés (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1969-41-1), including notes to its nude female mannequin, photocopied collages sent through the mail to then Director Anne d'Harnoncourt and others, and drawings in which the mannequin is in a constant state of transition and transformation.

Object Details

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.