Marcel Duchamp 1923

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Marcel Duchamp at some point, using what I assume was then-modern camera equipment. The image is bathed in a silvery light that blurs the line between the man and the myth. I like how Stieglitz has captured Duchamp’s profile, making him look both solid and ethereal. The way the light glances off his cheekbone and the soft gradations in the background feel so intentional, like a painter carefully layering glazes. The overall tonal range is narrow, making everything seem close in value. Think about the texture of the photograph, the way the graininess adds a layer of abstraction to Duchamp’s features. It’s like the photograph itself is a kind of readymade, an object found in the world and transformed by the artist’s vision. It's similar to how Sherrie Levine rephotographed famous photographs. Both artists were pushing the boundaries of what art could be, making us question originality and authorship. And isn't that what art is all about?