Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) remains one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 20th century. Associated with cubism, Dada, and surrealism (although he avoided being closely allied with any one art movement), Duchamp invented “readymade” art—conceptual work produced from existing objects—and produced such iconic works as Nude Descending a Staircase (1912), The Large Glass (1915–23), Fountain (1917) and Etant donnés (1946–66). With 112 color photos and reproductions of work from Duchamp and other artists, this book offers an accessible introduction to Duchamp’s career and explores his work through key themes: the question of authorship and identity; the artist’s preoccupation with eroticism; his twin poles of alchemy and science; the uses of language and secrecy in his work; and the fundamental role of humor and playfulness.