Dada - Marcel Duchamp

Dada means “hobby horse” in French and some say it’s just baby talk. These group of people had only one thing in common: their principles. Dadaists argued about what they should call themselves, the bare minimum that made sagacity was “Dada”. The Dada movement had begun in Europe, during the time when civilians were discussing World War I. Although we know Dada as being an art movement, it wasn’t. Dadaist didn’t want people to see them as artists or as a movement. They were fed up of the meaningless war that was being deliberated by citizens’ in their everyday life. They wanted to make a point, they were angry and they wanted to protest.

Dadaist rod on patriotism, rationalism and materialism because they subsidized in World War I. They said that they wanted no part in any traditions especially in artistic ones. Society was leading in the direction that Dadaist didn’t want to go. Art was becoming worthless so they didn’t consider themselves as artists nor did they want to create art. They had only one rule: Never follow any known rule.

Abstraction and Expressionism were a big impact on Dadaist Art. They collected readymade objects and created collage and photomontages. Although Dadaist didn’t consider themselves as artists, they did create art and they also became an art movement. As soon as they were becoming accepted, they stopped everything.

These people were original and different. They had real emotions, which helped them create beautiful art, even though they didn’t realize it.

For me Dada is a very interesting Art movement. The idea behind it is brilliant and also very inspiring. These people had a lot of courage and creativity. Picabia’s stuffed-monkey Portrait of Cezanne, Renoir and Rembrandt (1920) and Duchamp’s picture of Leanardo’s portrait of the Mona Lisa complete with beard and mustache (1919) were initial eminent Dadaist works. They used other artists artwork and showed their rebellion attitude by adding extras onto their work.

Mona Lisa with beard and mustache by Marcel Duchamp in 1919

Portrait of Cezanne, Renoir and Rembrandt by Picabia in 1920 

Marcel Duchamp

Duchamp had lived mostly in New York from 1915 to 1923 but was born in Blainville, Normandy. He also did some time in Paris from 1923 to 1942, and back to New York in 1942. Marcel Duchamp was a wise man and throughout his career, he trained and portrayed different styles. He made conventional objects of daily use with a touch of change and titled works of art by the artist.

Mass-produced objects freed him from the ‘trap’ of emergent a specific style. He died in Neuilly on the borders of Paris. Duchamp had dedicated his time also for playing chess. In the art world Duchamp was an enormous importance. He had beautiful art pieces that were and still are very famous these days. 

 Fountain by Marcel Duchamp in 1917

 Bicycle Wheel by Marcel Duchamp in 1913

Bottle Rack by Marcel Duchamp in 1914

Harvard Referencing System:

 Dada Art - History of Dada. 2014. What is Dada? [Online] Available at:http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/dada.htm [Accessed 19 May 2014] 

Dada Movement, 2014. Dada Art Movement:History, Characteristics, Artists. [Online] Available at: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/dada.htm [Accessed 19 May 2014] 

Tate, 2014. Marcel Duchamp: Artist biography. [Online] Available at: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/marcel-duchamp-1036 [Accessed 19 May 2014]