Among the most iconic works in the history of modern art, Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2) was first rejected from the Cubist section of the 1912 Salon des Indépendants in Paris before it sparked even greater controversy when displayed at the 1913 Armory Show in New York.

Which painting in the Armory Show was most controversial?

The most controversial work was Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase. Everyone had an opinion about it, including former President Theodore Roosevelt, who compared it to a Navajo rug he had in his bathroom. Americans were not used to looking at abstract art.

Why was Nude Descending a Staircase rejected?

Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 is a Modernist masterpiece by Marcel Duchamp that treads the line between Cubism and Futurism. It was rejected from the 1912 Salon des Independants in Paris by the Cubists for being too Futurist and was met with much criticism at the 1913 Armory Show in New York.

Who did Nude Descending a Staircase?

When the French artist Marcel Duchamp arrived by ship to New York in 1915, his reputation, as the saying goes, preceded him. Two years earlier, in 1913, after an inauspicious debut in France, Duchamp sent his painting Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2) to America.

At which exhibition did Marcel Duchamp famously show his Nude Descending a Staircase No 2 1912?

The painting was exhibited for the first time at Galeries Dalmau, Exposició d’Art Cubista, Barcelona, 1912.

Which painting caused a scandal at the Armory Show of 1913?

Marcel Duchamp’s Cubist-inspired Nude Descending a Staircase was famously described by one critic as “an explosion in a shingle factory.” Two-thirds of the paintings on view were by American artists. But it was the Europeans — Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp — that caused a sensation.

What was the public’s response to the Armory Show?

The Armory Show impacted both American popular culture and the art world. Initial reactions were highly negative because Americans lacked the language and context for understanding the avant-garde art emerging from Europe and the new philosophy of abstract art.

Is Nude Descending a Staircase a woman?

Strikingly similar to Duchamp’s earlier painting, Sad Young Man in a Train, Nude Descending a Staircase is essentially a study in abstracted movement. The form of the woman is de-emphasized in favor of capturing her motion across the painting.

How much is Nude Descending a Staircase worth?

Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 sold for a shockingly low price. Records show the piece was acquired for $324, of which Duchamp received $240. Today this price would translate to about $7800, with the artist’s cut coming in at $5777.

Where is Nude Descending a Staircase No 2?

The Legacy of Nude Descending a Staircase It was shown at the historically important Armory exhibition in New York City (1913). Duchamp wanted to shake up the art world, and Nude Descending a Staircase accomplished just that.