Ruth Brandon
Hardcover | 13.97 x 2.79 x 20.96 cm | 352 pp
Pegasus | 2022 | 9781643138619
In 1913 Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase exploded through the American art world. This is the story of how he followed the painting to New York two years later, enchanted the Arensberg salon, and - almost incidentally - changed art forever.
In 1915, a group of French artists fled war-torn Europe for New York. In the few months between their arrival - and America’s entry into the war in April 1917 - they pushed back the boundaries of the possible, in both life and art. The vortex of this transformation was the apartment at 33 West 67th Street, owned by Walter and Louise Arensberg, where artists and poets met nightly to talk, eat, drink, discuss each others’ work, play chess, plan balls, organise magazines and exhibitions, and fall in and out of love. At the centre of all this activity stood the mysterious figure of Marcel Duchamp, always approachable, always unreadable. His exhibit of a urinal, which he called Fountain, briefly shocked the New York art world before falling, like its perpetrator, into obscurity.
Many people (of both sexes) were in love with Duchamp. Henri-Pierre Roché and Beatrice Wood were among them; they were also, briefly, and (for her) life-changingly, in love with each other. Both kept daily diaries, which give an intimate picture of the events of those years. Or rather two pictures - for the views they offer, including of their own love affair, are stunningly divergent.
Spellbound by Marcel follows Duchamp, Roché, and Beatrice as they traverse the twentieth century. Roché became the author of Jules and Jim, made into a classic film by François Truffaut. Beatrice became a celebrated ceramicist. Duchamp fell into chess-playing obscurity until, decades later, he became famous for a second time - as Fountain was elected the twentieth century’s most influential artwork.
'Breezily entertaining...There's a fabulous cast of supporting characters on this busy stage' - The Spectator
'A delicious and deeply researched portrait of its time' - New York Times
Orders under £75
£4.99
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
Orders £75 and above
FREE SHIPPING
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
__________________
Orders under £75
£4.99 (under 2kg) or £9.99 (over 2kg)
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
Orders £75 and above
FREE SHIPPING
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
__________________
Orders under £75
£4.99 (under 2kg) or £19.99 (over 2kg)
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
Orders £90 and above
FREE SHIPPING
Tracked Shipping | Shipped within 3 business days | Delivery 1-2 days after shipping
__________________
For shipping to destinations outside the UK please email us to request a quote.
We will notify you once we've received and inspected your return. If approved, you'll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take a few days for your bank or credit card company to process the refund.
John Broadley is one of my favorite illustrators and also one of my absolute favorite books ever!
The special shipping to Switzerland arrived very quickly and the book was perfectly wrapped! I E-Mailed the owner for a request to ship the book to Switzerland and he answered really fast and was very friendly.
I'm very happy about my purchase and can only recommend it.
This is the most beautiful book recording the last days of an iconic building. A book to leave open on certain pages, to devour & enjoy as you wish.
Quick delivery and the books are in perfect condition. I cannot recommend Books About art enough. Thank you!
This book made me think & appreciate painters & their work in a different way. Full of concise information to accompany each selected artist. Very glad to have a copy.
An excellent enjoyable book, very comprehensive in all aspects of varying designs. A must for all interested the creation of many things.
Perfect service from an amazing online shop!
The books are in mint condition and are packaged up with real care. They arrive quickly in a strong box. Great discounts on fantastic books. Books about art make the largest online seller look like amateurs! Thank you 🤩
Picked this up for a fiver and its been a great little book to get you to try and approach drawing differently. Have enjoyed it so far.
In terms of the product, it's an ok book... let's leave it there. Great service from Books About Art, will order from them again, I hope! Speedy delivery and very professionally packed and despatched.
Was for a gift and they loved it!
Excellent book, quick delivery
I have ordered from Books About Art several times now. Every time I’ve ordered the books have arrived promptly and in great condition. The choice on the website has been fantastic and I have enjoyed discovering some wonderful books that I haven’t seen elsewhere. This has become my first stop for great art books and the newsletter has been brilliant at recommending new titles.
Excellent quality books,quick delivery.
Will definitely be buying more.
Many thanks
Excellent book
Quick delivery
Great service and great selection of books at great prices!
Very well packaged and protected, parcel arrived that quickly I didn't remember what it was :) Would certainly buy from Books About Art again.
Thanks for subscribing!
This email has been registered!
Product | SKU | Description | Collection | Availability | Product Type | Other Details |
---|
John Broadley is one of my favorite illustrators and also one of my absolute favorite books ever!
The special shipping to Switzerland arrived very quickly and the book was perfectly wrapped! I E-Mailed the owner for a request to ship the book to Switzerland and he answered really fast and was very friendly.
I'm very happy about my purchase and can only recommend it.
This is the most beautiful book recording the last days of an iconic building. A book to leave open on certain pages, to devour & enjoy as you wish.
Quick delivery and the books are in perfect condition. I cannot recommend Books About art enough. Thank you!
This book made me think & appreciate painters & their work in a different way. Full of concise information to accompany each selected artist. Very glad to have a copy.
An excellent enjoyable book, very comprehensive in all aspects of varying designs. A must for all interested the creation of many things.