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
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I love this book. It's very readable, informative and well written, covering one of the most exciting and revolutionary periods of art history. The author includes glimpses of how the artists' early work fared at auction and the public's reaction to the new art movements in exhibitions.
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A very readable and accessible guide to pivotal and controversial works of modern art. Each movement or time period is explained with useful timelines to provide wider historical context in which to place the artists and their work. Each selected art work is explained, the reasoning behind it, and why is was considered controversial. A really clear and useful guide.
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I love this book. It's very readable, informative and well written, covering one of the most exciting and revolutionary periods of art history. The author includes glimpses of how the artists' early work fared at auction and the public's reaction to the new art movements in exhibitions.
Well all I can say after my experience is what a great site and service, ordered my first set of books, and through my own mistake they were sent back, this is where they truly shone, having been in touch with them, they helped me quickly get them sent back out, I added more books to the order, they arrived with-in 2 days, perfect condition, perfect delivery. Very very happy.
Would I use again. Very very much so, yes you can buy books anywhere. BUT, would you get the service if there’s an issue. I can’t fault the way they dealt with my issue , even if it was caused by myself.All the books were pristine. A+
I love Books About Art so much I feel conflicted about reviewing them. I have told friends and they are similarly addicted to a thoughtfully curated, wide ranging selection of books that cover all kinds of culture and always arrive promptly, as described. Just don't tell anyone I said so.
Excellent book,well worth the money and in excellent condition. Delivered early than I expected can't fault this company never let's you down, thank you.
A very readable and accessible guide to pivotal and controversial works of modern art. Each movement or time period is explained with useful timelines to provide wider historical context in which to place the artists and their work. Each selected art work is explained, the reasoning behind it, and why is was considered controversial. A really clear and useful guide.