The Duchamp Dictionary

Product Description Marcel Duchamp’s life and work in more than 200 alphabetical entries – from alchemy and anatomy to Warhol and windows, via the Bicycle Wheel, chess and the fourth dimension Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) has entered mainstream culture as one of the founding fathers of modern art. Despite his popularity, books on Duchamp often shroud his work in theoretical and critical writing. Here, instead, is a book exploring the artist’s life and work in a thoroughly new and engaging manner, with short, alphabetical dictionary entries written in lively, jargon-free prose that at last allow Duchamp’s work and influence to be accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience. The Duchamp Dictionary features the most interesting and important artworks, relationships, people and ideas in Duchamp’s life, from chess, puns, the fourth dimension, love and genius, to the Bicycle Wheel and Fountain, Walter and Louise Arensberg, Peggy Guggenheim, Katherine S. Dreier and Arturo Schwarz. A contextual introduction shows how the dictionary form has been an inspiration to artists and writers from Flaubert to the Surrealists. Underpinned by the latest scholarship and research, Thomas Girst’s texts show how, in the words of contemporary artist Thomas Hirschhorn, Duchamp was ‘the most intelligent mind of his time’. Review A delightful, whimsical read for the Duchamp novice and expert alike. It's likely that one would learn more from this seemingly segmented book than they would from a formal Duchamp biography. . . . accessible and visual, yet still remarkably complex.-- "Complex" A fittingly Duchampian book that challenges one's thinking about the artist and the book. This is a reference volume that begs to be read as a novel; it is a book for specialists of modern art that will also be enjoyable to the uninitiated. Libraries should purchase two copies of this book: one to be consulted in the reference section, another to circulate so that new generations of artists and scholars will discover Duchamp through this engaging book. Highly recommended.-- "Choice" Not only insightful, but also full of humor.-- "BOA (Books on Art)" One century ago Duchamp helped change the way the world considers and looks at art. . . Thomas Girst set out to illuminate the works, influence and life of Marcel Duchamp in a much less academic fashion than previous writing about the artist.-- "ARTINFO" From the Back Cover ?Marcel Duchamp (18871968) has entered mainstream culture as one of the founding fathers of modern art. Despite his popularity, books on Duchamp often shroud his work in theoretical and critical writing. Here, instead, is a book exploring the artists life and work in a thoroughly new and engaging manner, with short, alphabetical dictionary entries written in lively, jargon- free prose that at last allow Duchamps work and influence to be accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience. The book features more than 200 entries on the most interesting and important artworks, relationships, people and ideas in Duchamps life, from chess, puns, the fourth dimension, love and genius, to the Bicycle Wheel and Fountain, Walter and Louise Arensberg, Peggy Guggenheim, Katherine S. Dreier and Arturo Schwarz. A contextual introduction shows how the dictionary form has been an inspiration to artists and writers from Flaubert to the Surrealists. Underpinned by the latest scholarship and research, Thomas Girsts texts show how, in the words of contemporary artist Thomas Hirschhorn, Duchamp was the most intelligent mind of his time. About the Author Thomas Girst is a German author and has been Head of Cultural Engagement at the BMW Group since 2003.