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Lot Essay
Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2, is a re-worked version of Duchamp's masterpiece of the same title, executed in 1912 and exhibited in 1913 at the New York Armory Show, where it attracted worldwide controversy and heated publicity. The original painting is now housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Between 1935 and 1941, Marcel Duchamp reproduced several of his works, including the present work, to create his 'portable museum' From or by Marcel Duchamp or Rrose Sélavy (The box in a valise), which was first published in 1941. This is a proof of one of the published reproductions contained in the boxes. Compared to the published version, this work bears some slight differences, such as the size (slightly bigger), the edition (here unknown) and the fact it is signed by the artist.
Duchamp's idea of creating original works of art from reproductions opened up the complex issue concerning the boundaries between original and reproduced objects, which would became Duchamp's main focus after he renounced easel painting in 1918.
Between 1935 and 1941, Marcel Duchamp reproduced several of his works, including the present work, to create his 'portable museum' From or by Marcel Duchamp or Rrose Sélavy (The box in a valise), which was first published in 1941. This is a proof of one of the published reproductions contained in the boxes. Compared to the published version, this work bears some slight differences, such as the size (slightly bigger), the edition (here unknown) and the fact it is signed by the artist.
Duchamp's idea of creating original works of art from reproductions opened up the complex issue concerning the boundaries between original and reproduced objects, which would became Duchamp's main focus after he renounced easel painting in 1918.