Marcel Duchamp

Property from the Collection of Carlos Alberto Cruz

MARCEL DUCHAMP

ROTORELIEFS. PARIS, 1935

Set of 6 cardboard discs, printed on both sides in color offset lithography, (each 7 ⅛ in. diameter; 200 mm). Circular holder composed of two black plastic rings (each 9 ¾ in. diameter; 248 mm), with strip of black sponge rubber sandwiched between two-thirds of their circumference; lacks cellophane window. Black plastic viewer (5 ½ in. diameter; 140 mm). Explanatory note printed on waxed paper 

"Pour obetenir le relief maximum …"

One of 500 sets of the first edition of Duchamp's Rotofeliefs (ca. 300 sets were lost during World War II).

Duchamp designed the discs to be placed on a phonograph turntable and viewed as they revolved "to obtain maximum relief". The small black disc was to be used as a viewer, to allow the user to focus on the revolving image.

REFERENCE:

Schwarz, Complete works 441