The Artist Marcel Duchamp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Artist Marcel Duchamp - Essay Example The essay "The Artist Marcel Duchamp" states the Marcel Duchamp, his art, and life. He began to learn artistic processes here, and Duchamp later remarked that his teacher believed the then contemporary impressionist style were debased and sought to instruct only traditional techniques; as a result, Duchamp’s primary influence became his family. During this formative period Duchamp was predominantly influenced by academic style of art including the post-impressionist and symbolist schools. When Duchamp turned 17 he moved to Paris to pursue a career as an artist. He was immediately influenced by the prevailing artistic trend of cubism and much of his early work reflects these influences; Duchamp’s work, however, reflects more eccentric personal images and psychology than most of the established cubist art. In 1912 Duchamp completed one of his most renowned works, ‘Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2’. While the painting incorporates traditional cubist elements of shifting perspectives, its cryptic title and focus on the movement of the object have led many critics to identify it as a monumental work. Like much great art, the painting was derided upon its release. The work was originally supposed to be exhibited in Paris, but the curator asked Duchamp to change the title to which he refused. When it was finally exhibited in a 1913 New York exhibition the painting was even termed, â€Å"an explosion in a shingle factory. The painting is almost ironically referring to the Renaissance ‘nude’ in its title.