ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Two New Biographies of Marcel Duchamp Published Simultaneously

publication · 2026-04-23

Two substantial biographies of Marcel Duchamp have been released nearly simultaneously by different publishers: Judith Housez's "Marcel Duchamp" (Grasset) and Bernard Marcadé's "Marcel Duchamp, la Vie à crédit" (Flammarion, Grandes Biographies collection). While both works share the same subject, their approaches and perspectives are radically different. Marcadé's biography opens with Duchamp's death, which paradoxically heralded his rebirth in France, culminating nearly a decade later in the artist's first retrospective at the Centre Georges Pompidou in January 1977.

Key facts

  • Two biographies of Marcel Duchamp published simultaneously.
  • Judith Housez authored 'Marcel Duchamp' published by Grasset.
  • Bernard Marcadé authored 'Marcel Duchamp, la Vie à crédit' published by Flammarion.
  • Marcadé's book is part of the Grandes Biographies collection.
  • The two biographies have radically different approaches and perspectives.
  • Marcadé's biography opens with Duchamp's death.
  • Duchamp's death paradoxically announced his rebirth in France.
  • The first retrospective of Duchamp was at Centre Georges Pompidou in January 1977.

Entities

Artists

  • Marcel Duchamp

Institutions

  • Grasset
  • Flammarion
  • Centre Georges Pompidou

Locations

  • France

Sources