Lecture Notes: Marcel Duchamp's Fountain at SFMOMA

Context and Background

• Location: SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
• Artwork: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
• Original Creation: 1917
• Recreation: 1964 (original was lost)
• Duchamp's Role: Oversaw the 1964 series recreation

Creation and Concept

• Initial Act: Duchamp purchased a urinal from a plumbing supply house named Mott.
• Transformation: Turned the urinal on its side, signed it "R. Mott," and dated it.
• Submission: Presented it to the American Society for Independent Artists' exhibition.

Artistic Intent and Impact

• Society's Goal:
  • Combat juried exhibitions that favored traditional artwork.
  • Promote new artistic possibilities and accept every submitted work.
  • Fountain was ironically rejected.
• Medium and Tradition: Submitted as "sculpture," challenging expectations of monumental and heroic traditions.

Philosophical Questions and Art Theory

• Concept of Readymade: Duchamp's term for art created from ordinary objects.
• Artistic Alchemy: Transforming ordinary items to provoke new perception and philosophical inquiry.
• Questions Raised:
  • What defines art?
  • Does art require the artist's hand in its making?
  • Can art be solely an idea or concept without physical craft?
  • Can art exist purely as philosophy or theory?

Discussion Points

• Rejection and Acceptance: Despite being rejected, the piece challenges conventional art norms.
• Art vs. Craftsmanship: Separates the enjoyment and depth of art from its traditional craftsmanship.
• Transformation: Encourages viewing familiar objects in new ways, beyond aesthetics to philosophical engagement.

Concluding Thoughts

• Duchamp's Fountain remains a radical challenge to traditional notions of art, emphasizing the power of ideas and philosophical exploration over conventional aesthetics. The piece continues to provoke questions about the nature and definition of art itself.