By Calvin Tomkins

 

First published to great acclaim in 1996, this landmark biography of the influential artist Marcel Duchamp by The New Yorker writer and art critic Calvin Tomkins has been out of print for many years. This new and revised edition from The Museum of Modern Art features full-color illustrations for the first time and commemorates the 100th anniversary of Duchamp's first Readymade, Bicycle Wheel, as well as the 100th anniversary of the first Armory Show in New York, where Duchamp presented his now-iconic Nude Descending a Staircase. Duchamp is widely considered one of the most important artists of the twentieth century, yet his personal life remained an enigma throughout his avidly scrutinized career. Tomkins, from his unique vantage point as both an accomplished art critic and a friend of Duchamp's since the 1960s, presents a piercing portrait of the artist, adeptly analyzing his work and career while also recounting his personal life, influences, and relationships. 540 pp.; 119 illus.