How much is the famous urinal by Marcel Duchamp?

Critics often argue that the famous Redi-Made Marcel Duchamp (Marcel Duchamp, 1887-1968) «The Fountain" is the most important work of art of the twentieth century.

The gesture of the artist, who gave the exhibition an ordinary porcelain urinal, shattered the traditional idea of what art is and who may be considered the author. With Duchamp artists became known not only those who create the objects, but also those who selects and displays . He indicated that the identity of any object of art does not depend on the characteristics of the object itself, but from a consensus - quite literally: any thing can become art if it is placed in the correct context. Duchamp paved the way for thousands of young intellectuals who, under his influence began to clothe their thoughts in a form with which they in the XIX century, as if the museum was not allowed.

• Marcel Duchamp Fountain. 1917
  Source: cabinetmagazine.org
• Marcel Duchamp Fountain. Copy. 1963
  Museum of Modern Art, Stockholm
  Source: cabinetmagazine.org

Besides, who does not like Duchamp, demonstrated to the world that "Art is life? .. Art should not be locked up in museums - it is not created in order to distract people from everyday life, on the contrary, it should let this routine in itself. In short, the mass of ideas here, but the object itself has almost no value: instead of the toilet could be some other everyday object. The only advantage to the urinal, for example, a shelf for shoes - is that first, because of associations with the area, which in polite society to talk is not accepted, was capable to cause a strong reaction from the audience. In any case, the idea works recognized the valuable much earlier than the object itself, which is a long time was not considered worthy of collecting .

first "Fountain" was purchased by Duchamp in 1917 year. It was intended for the exhibition of the American Society of Independent Artists, which was to become the largest exhibition of contemporary art in the country. To participate in this event could anyone (for the sum of six dollars). Duchamp gave a urinal anonymously, signed it R. Mutt. Despite the fact that he introduced his six dollars, most of the organizers voted against the inclusion of the object in the exhibition. Duchamp and his patron Walter Arensberg (Walter Arensberg) began to protest, and the story was leaked to the New York newspapers.

«Debut of" ready-Maida took a few weeks later. His picture (made, incidentally, Alfred Stiglitz (Alfred Stieglitz)), was published in the journal entitled The Blind Man. Near graced the first manifesto of conceptual art, which said: "So what, that Mr. Matt did not do this subject with your own hands? He chose him. " After some time, urinal fate of other early dyushanovskih Redi-made: the artist broke it or threw it in the trash. Nobody knows exactly what happened to the subject - in 1917 it did not matter.

After the war, when Duchamp gained cult status among artists of pop art, many of the world Art wanted to see again his legendary "Fountain" and the wizard allow several curators to acquire on behalf of the bowls (1950, 1953 and 1963). The first urinal is now in the Art Museum of Philadelphia, lost the second and the third entered the collection of the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art.

Dadaist bully, once paints on mustaches postcard images of the Mona Lisa, Duchamp knew that it was thanks to the many reproductions of art works are symbolic, and their authors - world-famous. In the 1964-m Duchamp arranged with Milan dealer, historian and collector Arturo Schwarz (Arturo Schwarz) on the manufacture of replicas of the most famous ready-Made (12 copies). Were brought into porcelain urinal copies shown in the photographs Stieglitz. Nine "Schwartz" toilets included in collections of museums around the world. The other three are in private hands - one in New York, in meeting family Mughrabi, another in California, and the third - in Athens, the millionaire Daskalopulosa Dimitris (Dimitris Daskalopoulos). The latter can be seen this summer in London, the exhibition galleries Whitechapel.

then there is the thirteenth instance - the so-called "prototype", signed by the name of Marcel Duchamp. He appeared on the market in 1973, in New York Gallery Ronald Feldman (Ronald Feldman). Andy Warhol, who often came to Feldman, asked the dealer to exchange the urinal for a few of his own portraits. "Duchamp, then did not sell very well - recalls Feldman - but Andy than anyone else, understood the value of the lottery of things - he made them».

After the death of "father of pop art "In 1987 all his property was put up for auction Sotheby's. "The Fountain" received a modest estimeyt 2-2,5 thousand dollars, was sold along with the rest of the lottery products. Work bought for 65 750 dollars a Greek construction tycoon John Duckys (Dakis Joannou). Now the toilet is decorated lobby of his Athens home. "I just could not believe that such a thing can be bought, - says John. - Past, people underestimate the historical significance of this work, so we were able to buy it for a ridiculous price." Time has proven the correctness of the collector: the next decade prices Duchamp soared to heaven. In 1999, Sotheby's staged one of the "Fountain" Schwartz on the cover of the auction catalog. The work has brought 1.8 million.

There are also several "unofficial" urinals. It is known that two copies are owned by Italian collectors, Joe DiMaggio (Gio di Maggio) and Lyuzelle Tsinone (Luisella Zignone), who received them as a gift from Schwarz. These "fountains" were exhibited in Basel and Buenos Aires. Another toilet, according to rumors, is a collection of Milanese gallerist Sergio Casoli (Sergio Casoli). Schwartz argues that these works are defective. Signed by Duchamp are not worth it. In one interview, the dealer admitted that he wants to sell another urinal - according to the source, he asked for work 2,5 million dollars. According to Schwartz, the price will depend on who wants to buy - a museum, a respected collector or a speculator.

In general, the world now, there is at least 17 were released in 1964 dyushanovskih toilets . Maybe there are more - knows this only Schwartz. Jacqueline Matisse Monne (Jacqueline Matisse Monnier), head of the association to protect the heritage of Marcel Duchamp, claims that neither she nor her mother, Tina (wife of the artist) did not allow the dealer selling defective urinal. Before marrying Duchamp, Tiny was the wife of the dealer Pierre Matisse (Pierre Matisse), son of Henry, so she became heir to the two great masters. Jacqueline Schwartz calls the actions of strange, because the Milanese "was a very good friend Marcel. The dealer is the author of the catalog-Raisonne of the artist.

Some experts creativity Duchamp in a rage. Francis M. Naumann (Francis M. Naumann), scholar and dealer who has published much material about the artist, said that "informal" urinals generally can not be regarded as creations of the wizard. "The most important of these works - a signature - he said. - That she turns everyday objects into works of art." And if no signature, then what can be said? .. Others are taking it more calmly. Daniella Luxembourg (Daniella Luxembourg) from the gallery of Luxembourg & Dayan, newly arrived retrospective of the artist, observes that his works are traded as relics. According to her, soon there will be no difference between the works signed by Duchamp, and objects that were in close proximity to it.

Duchamp himself was not so far removed from commerce. For many years he made a living just trading works of art. Although his work, he preferred not to sell, and donate. Once he said that his creations are not intended for speculation.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova, AI

Sources: economist.com , artinvestment.ru