Marcel Duchamp: The Afternoon Interviews

Marcel Duchamp: The Afternoon Interviews presents a series of conversations between art critic Calvin Tomkins and artist Marcel Duchamp, recorded over several afternoons in 1964. These previously unpublished interviews capture Duchamp at age 78, speaking candidly about his art, ideas, and life experiences. The book preserves Duchamp's voice through careful transcription of their discussions at his Greenwich Village apartment. Tomkins, who had already written extensively about Duchamp, draws out the artist's perspectives on the New York art scene, his creative process, and his most significant works. Their exchanges range from Duchamp's revolutionary "readymades" to his views on the commercialization of art, while revealing his characteristic wit and intellectual precision. The inclusion of Tomkins' introduction and contextual notes frames these conversations within the broader scope of 20th century art history. The interviews offer unique insights into one of modern art's most influential figures, capturing both his philosophical approach to creativity and his enduring impact on how we understand the nature of art itself.

Readers appreciate the casual, conversational tone of these 1964 interviews, noting they reveal Duchamp's personality and artistic philosophy in an approachable way. The book's short length (approximately 100 pages) makes it digestible for both art scholars and newcomers. Liked: - Offers personal insights into Duchamp's daily life and thoughts - Captures his humor and wit - Includes previously unpublished photographs - Clear, concise questions from Tomkins Disliked: - Some readers wanted more depth on specific art pieces - A few note the interviews feel dated - Price point considered high for the length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (6 reviews) One reader on Goodreads commented: "These conversations let you feel like you're sitting in the room with Duchamp." Another noted: "The brevity works against it - just as the discussion gets interesting, it ends."

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⚡ Calvin Tomkins first met Marcel Duchamp in 1959 while writing for Newsweek, leading to a long-lasting professional relationship and multiple books about the artist 🎨 The interviews in this book were conducted in 1964 at Duchamp's apartment near Washington Square, where the artist would regularly play chess while smoking cigars 📖 Though the interviews were extensive, Tomkins waited nearly 50 years before publishing them in this format in 2013 🎭 During these conversations, Duchamp revealed his belief that America's greatest contribution to art was its plumbing and bridges, not its paintings 🗣️ Duchamp spoke candidly about his revolutionary "readymades" in these interviews, explaining that he chose objects that provoked no aesthetic emotion in him whatsoever