Nude Descending Staircase No. 2 By Marcel Duchamp

Artists have free will to decide whether or not their work will ‘go against the grain’ and stand out significantly from others of the time period. One particular painter stood out among the fellow artists of his family with one transitional painting. “Nude Descending a Staircase No.2” was an interesting painting where Marcel reflected the techniques and characteristics of his time, while also being unique from others by creating a controversial piece that served to stir up the society. The painting “Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2” was created by an artist named Marcel Duchamp in 1912, there is a number two at the end because the painting was his second version of a painting he had previously produced on cardboard in 1911. The artwork is approximately fifty eight inches by thirty five inches, but, when surrounded by a two
Therefore, he decided to submit his painting to the hanging committee of Solon des Indépendants, which was a popular art exhibition in Paris. Unfortunately, the controversy over his painting began on March eighteenth of 1912, when the committee sent word to Duchamp’s studio in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France that they refused to display his work because “a nude never descends the stairs--a nude reclines.” Ironically, two of Duchamp’s older brothers, Jacques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon, were artists that served on the hanging committee, which chose the works that were to be displayed. Reportedly, the painting was also rejected because of the very literal title, along with the committee’s feeling that the depiction of the nude woman was dehumanizing because it presented her in a very mechanical way. Later, in October of 1912, Duchamp’s painting was finally presented at Salon de la Section d’Or. While he was pleased that his painting finally reached a display, Duchamp still never forgave his brothers for taking part in the rejection of his