Marcel Duchamp interview on Art and Dada (1956)

Filmed amidst the Arensberg collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where 35 works by Marcel Duchamp are gathered, this 1956 interview features the artist talking with James Johnson Sweeney, former director of the Guggenheim Museum.
Check out these Duchamp books on Amazon!

Duchamp describes his transition away from Impressionism toward a Cubist, and then post-Cubist, approach, providing commentary while standing before Nude Descending a Staircase (“I was not aware of Italian Futurism when I painted it”) and The Large Glass (“The two crackings are symmetrically arranged and there is…almost an intention there…a ready-made intention, in other words, that I respect and love.”). These concepts are paradoxically, although quite logically, articulated alongside his desire for “dryness” and mechanical precision. Viewers also gain insight into Duchamp’s thoughts on painting for an “ideal” public—a notion he clearly distinguishes from ivory-tower elitism.

Checking out the affiliate links above helps me bring even more high quality videos by earning me a small commission! And if you have any suggestions for future content, make sure to subscribe on the Patreon page. Thank you for your support!

[ManufacturingIntellect]

Check out these Duchamp books on Amazon!



Checking out the affiliate links above helps me bring even more high quality videos by earning me a small commission! And if you have any suggestions for future content, make sure to subscribe on the Patreon page. Thank you for your support!

[bksug]

"I believe that art is the only form of activity in which man, as man, shows himself to be a true individual and is capable of going beyond the animal state. Because art is an outlet towards regions which are not ruled by time and space."

[anniemihn]

Fantastic video. I never thought I'd be hearing one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and a huge idol of mine explaining his work in his own words. It's surprising to me how affable and soft spoken he seems since I always had the impression that Duchamp would be sort of a cold and silent man, judging for his impeccably conceived conceptual work. It was a revelation for me. Thank you so much for this gem.

[jianingwang]

I can't believe that I have been watched this video for three times and never skiped one word..

[somethingsomething]

Thank you from the twenty seven thousand souls who were lucky enough to be recommended this insurmountably rich material

[matthewmclaughlin]

Absolutely fantastic. Not only is the guy clearly brilliant but unlike many artists, he comes across as quite open and willing to speak about art and his own works. LOVED this video! Thank you so much.

[emmalichious]

He is my great, great, great grandpa. I have been doing research in my family. My grandpa is George Duchamp and all of this is so interesting.

[Largemoths]

Absolutely one of the greatest innovators in arts history. Completely changed the way the world viewed art.

[maijanahte]

Marcel Duchamp is my great great great uncle, my great grandmas maiden name is Duchamp. This is amazing to find, I’m so grateful and blessed to see my relative in his prime!

[sandyqai]

Can I just say how much I love this channel, and the genuine effort that is apparent in making such a wide variety of culture available to us. Thank you so much for everything on here, I've been watching and learning since I was a lot younger and still come back to it :, )

[murraykriner]

With as prolific as this man was in his life time it is so touching to hear his personal philosophies expounded in such clear and concise fashion. There is no affectation in his mein, no tottering tower of obsolescence waiting to fall over. Marcel Du Champ is human being first, and only an creative master of his own personal view. Lovely video content. You must be very proud to own it.

[sonnycorbi]

Marcel Duchamp - such a unique person - unique to me anyway - thanks, I enjoyed this conversation -

[rtisom]

What a treat to hear the great artist discussing his work. His command of the English language, especially bearing in mind the time in question, is quite remarkable. I wish I knew his biography well enough to understand what is going on, most certainly there is an interesting back story here. The average French intellectual from that era pretended to profess a certain disdain for our language. He is quite idiomatic. What a genius

[aggelosgr]

Interviewer was great too! Let's give him some credit.

[AudioPervert]

The guy was so far ahead of the time, even today. He said "make art for people 100 years in the future..." Amaze

[StephanBreuerFLYING]

Srating at 28' he ends this interview on a superb note so hyper conceptual that truly captures his essence

[bobb]

I remember seeing these works in the museum. All worth the time to visit and see.

[DEROERIS]

What a fascinating man, what a great video this is, enjoyed so much! Thanks for showing this!

[aminoto-]

The “nude descending a staircase” has always been one of my favourite paintings, it doesn’t matter how much I have looked at it, I am always seeing something different in the motion of the figure..

[diegoramirez]

This is my favourite video in all YouTube