WHEN did Duchamp come to New York and WHY.

 

The Society Of Independent Artists formed in 1916 (after . . ) and in 1917 held the first annual exhibition, these exhibitions continured till 1944.

Why was Duchamp involved ?

"The group aimed to provide artists no matter what their backgrounds or level of professional success with the opportunity to show their work."

It was held at the Grand Central Palace (1911-1964).

"Grand Central Palace was not about architecture. It was a setting where adults could play out their fantasies under the pretense of doing business"

Prioer to that, he had submitted "Nude Descending A Staircase" to the Salon des Independents.

"In January of 1912, I started  in to make a big painting of the same subject that was a long way from being naturalistic. At first, in the sketch for Laforgue's poem, I had the nude ascending, but then I began to think that it would help my expression to have her descending. More majestic you know.

 In the meantime, an exhibition occured in february, of the movement rivalling the Cubists, the Futurists at the Bernheime Jeune Gallery.

After working on the painting for a month, in March 1912, he submitted it to the Salon des Independents

The Puteaux Cubists had a meeting and Duchamp's two brothers were sent to either rename or withdraw the painting.

"I said nothing to my brothers, but I went immediately to the show and took my painting  home in a taxi. It was a real turning point in my life, I can assure you. I saw that I would not be very much interested in groups after that."

He went on to paint The King and Queen surrounded by Nudes at High Speed.

In July he went to Munich, began to work on his ideas for his Large Glass, soon after giving up painting forever.

Returning to Paris in September 1912, resubmitting his Nude descending a staircase to the Salon de la Section d'Or. where it was accepted for exhibition.

In 1913 worked as a clerk in the Bibliotheque Sainte Genevieve.

In February 1913 the armory show include the Nude Descending a Staircase.

"It was up in NYC from February 17 to March 15 of that year and then traveled to Chicago where it hung in the Art Institute March 24 to April 16.  From there it went back east to Boston."


Duchamp had sent

Portrait of Chess Players 1911

Sad Young Man on A Train 1911–12.

The King and Queen Surrounded by Swift Nudes

They all sold.


Chocolate Grinder

wheel

pharmacie

 

Bottle Rack

Outbreak of World War One

Left for New York in June 1915, at the suggestion of Walter Pach, an organiser of the Armory Show.

He arrived a celebrity.

Henri Pierre Roche said Duchamp "could have had his coice of of heiresses, but he prefered to play chess and live on the proceeds of the exclusive French lessons he gave for two dollars an hour."

Walter Arensberg provided him with a studio at 33 West 67th Street, in exchange for the completed Large Glass.