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Marcel Duchamp was an actor, chess player and painter, born on July 28, 1887 in Blainville-Crevon, Seine-Maritime, France. Marcel Duchamp died on October 2, 1968, aged 81. Credited works include Étant donnés, L.H.O.O.Q. and Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2.
My Take
Duchamp is the rare figure whose greatest work was a question, not an object. Turning a urinal into art was less a prank than a scalpel aimed at the whole idea of what art could be, and a century on we still haven't fully answered him. What I admire most is the discipline behind the mischief: he could paint motion itself in Nude Descending a Staircase, then calmly walk away from painting to play chess. That refusal to repeat himself, that willingness to let an idea outrank a canvas, is why he feels more contemporary than most living artists.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Marcel Duchamp
- Name (Japanese)
- マルセル・デュシャン
- Reading
- まるせる・でゅしゃん
- Born
- July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Boar
- Origin
- Blainville-Crevon, Seine-Maritime, France
- Occupation
- actor / chess player / painter / sculptor / photographer
2. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Étant donnés | — | |
| Notable work | L.H.O.O.Q. | — | |
| Notable work | Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 | — |
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Marcel Duchamp born?
Born July 28, 1887.
When did Marcel Duchamp die?
Died October 2, 1968, aged 81.
Where was Marcel Duchamp from?
Marcel Duchamp was from Blainville-Crevon, Seine-Maritime, France.
What did Marcel Duchamp do?
Marcel Duchamp worked as actor, chess player, painter, sculptor, photographer.
What was Marcel Duchamp known for?
Notable works include Étant donnés, L.H.O.O.Q., Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2.
Actor — see all → · Chess player — see all → · More people from France →