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Marcel Duchamp — Bouche-évier
Marcel Duchamp

Bouche-évier

1964

Marcel Duchamp's "Bouche-évier" from 1964 is a compelling bronze casting, measuring 6.3 cm in diameter, which reifies one of his most iconic conceptual gestures. This small, circular sculpture, resembling a common sink drain, features a central indentation surrounded by six raised, polished spheres, arranged within a textured, concentric ring. It embodies Duchamp's revolutionary readymade philosophy, translating an everyday industrial object into a profound artistic statement. Unlike his earlier, singular readymades, which were often found objects, this work is a meticulously crafted multiple, created late in his career, offering a tangible legacy for his groundbreaking ideas. The transformation of a utilitarian object like a sink drain into a bronze sculpture elevates its status, forcing a reconsideration of aesthetic value and artistic intention. By casting this industrial form in a traditional, enduring art material, Duchamp deliberately subverts conventional notions of beauty and craftsmanship, creating a paradox that questions the very definition of art. This later series of multiples, which included "Bouche-évier," allowed Duchamp to revisit and solidify the philosophical underpinnings of his earlier, ephemeral works. These editions are not mere reproductions; they are deliberate artistic statements, extending his critique of originality and the art market, while making his influential concepts accessible to a wider audience of discerning collectors. Owning a piece like "Bouche-évier" means possessing a direct link to the intellectual revolution Duchamp instigated, a work that continues to challenge and redefine the boundaries of artistic practice.

Medium
Multiple, bronze casting with plexiglass support

🔨 Auction Lot

Martini Studio d'Arte: Modern & Contemporary Art (December 2018)

December 20, 2018

Estimate: €7,000 to €8,000

Lot 4

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About this work

Marcel Duchamp, Bouche-évier, 1964

Marcel Duchamp's "Bouche-évier" from 1964 is a compelling bronze casting, measuring 6.3 cm in diameter, which reifies one of his most iconic conceptual gestures. This small, circular sculpture, resembling a common sink drain, features a central indentation surrounded by six raised, polished spheres, arranged within a textured, concentric ring. It embodies Duchamp's revolutionary readymade philosophy, translating an everyday industrial object into a profound artistic statement. Unlike his earlier, singular readymades, which were often found objects, this work is a meticulously crafted multiple, created late in his career, offering a tangible legacy for his groundbreaking ideas. The transformation of a utilitarian object like a sink drain into a bronze sculpture elevates its status, forcing a reconsideration of aesthetic value and artistic intention. By casting this industrial form in a traditional, enduring art material, Duchamp deliberately subverts conventional notions of beauty and craftsmanship, creating a paradox that questions the very definition of art. This later series of multiples, which included "Bouche-évier," allowed Duchamp to revisit and solidify the philosophical underpinnings of his earlier, ephemeral works. These editions are not mere reproductions; they are deliberate artistic statements, extending his critique of originality and the art market, while making his influential concepts accessible to a wider audience of discerning collectors. Owning a piece like "Bouche-évier" means possessing a direct link to the intellectual revolution Duchamp instigated, a work that continues to challenge and redefine the boundaries of artistic practice.

Medium
Multiple, bronze casting with plexiglass support
Year
1964
Seen at
Martini Studio d'Arte

Related themes

Bronze, Avant Garde, Small Scale, Dada, Male Artist, Found Object, Modernist, Sculpture, Conceptual Art, Readymade, Geometric Form, French Artist, Multiples, Collector Edition, Circular Form, Neutral Palette, Everyday Objects, Limited Edition, Industrial Aesthetic, Cast Metal, Abstract

More works by Marcel Duchamp

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago