Fountain-Duchamp

Fountain is a 1917 work done by Marcel Duchamp. He found art through an already made object, which in this case was a urinal. He found an underlying meaning in this object, and felt that it had a significant meaning. Critics of art feel that this piece, if closely analyzed, can be compared to a seated Buddha or the Virgin Mary with a veil over her head. It has been said to be one of the most influential works of the 20th century.

I really like the "Fountain" by Marcel Duchamp. I think the ideas and concepts that he brought out of an ordinary urinal are incredible and truly lead a person into deeper thought. The correlations that have been made between the urinal, the Buddha, and the Virgin Mary are also tremendous. The fact that the object is so simple and ordinary also draws my attention. Duchamp made a urinal into something very elegant and beautiful, which is a skill in and of itself. I think that Duchamp has led the way for other artists through is creation of what is now known as conceptual art.
   -O.D.


Duchamp created Fountain in 1917, but the true creator is probably a factory or company who creates urinals. I find this a very odd piece of art. I understand his motives but saying this is the blessed Virgin Mary is a little out of the question to me. If anything the real work done on this piece was by putting R. Mutt and the date on it. Everything else is more what the viewer sees. If your seeing the Virign Mary or any other type of religious figure then that act is more upon symbolism. There are many symbols in today's world that go unnoticed, for example the letter "V" can be considered the "womb" or the Virgin Mary in any type of context. Again I am not a professional art critic, but my opinion towards this piece of art as a "masterpiece" is baffling and I just don't see it at all.
-Owen