When does a bicycle wheel become an artwork? When Marcel Duchamp deems it so. The Readymades, mass-produced objects given artistic status, revolutionized what we consider art.
Duchamp's first Readymade, a bicycle wheel mounted on a stool, and a metal bottle-drying rack known as a 'hedgehog,' challenged traditional notions of craftsmanship. After his stint in New York during World War I, he began signing everyday items as art.
The snow shovel with an inscription became a staple, but the coat hanger and hat rack, left to collect dust or hang awkwardly, underscored Duchamp's indifference toward functionality. His Readymades, devoid of romanticism, marked a pivotal shift in artistic expression.
Duchamp’s innovations influenced artists like Braque and Picasso but differed in their approach. While his Readymades were neutral and indifferent, other movements, such as Surrealism, employed found objects with deeper symbolic meanings.
