Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 1)

Currently not on view

Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 1)

1911

Marcel Duchamp (American (born France), 1887–1968)

Addressing what he later called “the problem of motion in painting,” Marcel Duchamp here repeats elements of the nude’s body in her final steps down a precipitous spiral staircase. This evocation of elapsed time in a static composition resonates with the Futurist works of Giacomo Balla, Gino Severini, and others. However, by 1911 Duchamp was closely involved with the circle of artists gathering regularly in the Paris suburb of Puteaux. Other artists who belonged to the Puteaux Group included Fernand Léger, Robert Delaunay, and Josef Csaky.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 1)

Date:

1911

Artist:

Marcel Duchamp (American (born France), 1887–1968)

Medium:

Oil on cardboard on panel

Dimensions:

37 3/4 × 23 3/4 inches (95.9 × 60.3 cm) Framed: 41 1/2 × 27 1/8 × 3 inches (105.4 × 68.9 × 7.6 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950

Accession Number:

1950-134-58

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

Provenance

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.

Currently not on view