Portrait of Chess Players by Marcel Duchamp (1911)

I am wandering in my own thoughts thinking that this is merely the interaction between two chess players in deep concentration, but as always a little research brings me on the most amazing cyber journeys. Thank you, technology.

 I strongly encourage you to see the first posted sources in the bottom of this blog. It is well rounded and extremely informative. I am going to try not to get into them so that I can keep it strictly artistic.

Interpreting this paining can be a little hard due to its abstractedness. Though, it is illustrated that the chess player on the left back in pondering for his opponents move. It would seem like he (most likely a he) is whistling ergo the small black abstract figures in the middle of the image. If one put great focus, it looks as if there is resembles of a king (possible the chess piece most observed by a player, other figures are too irregular to interpret for me, but also I see what could resemble a Caribbean flamingo.

Here is a close up, but I cannot completely interpret this without saying that it is the player’s soul’s soundscape.

Now to the part of the image that I find interesting, the second players constantly moving head. It would look like he chess player is taking sneak peeks at us, audience, the chessboard, and just in the general, his surroundings. I say that hence the contour that is manipulated with the gradient of the represented colors. Observe the contour of his head and his resting elbow, and left underarm.

Here is a visual example of my observation of the second mentioned chess player.

 

I hope this makes my point clear. Our artist has an extremely difficult relationship with the game, chess, and that is how he resembles his everlasting spark.

Sources:

1. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=11&sid=8f3c9b44-02b6-4f54-98b5-5a4a102bf146%40sessionmgr14&hid=19

Link number one does not work properly due to the fact that it is a educational institution research base, so here is some information that will help you look up what I read to create my blog. Enjoy the search!

Authors:

Cross, Lowell

Source:

Leonardo Music Journal; Dec1999, Vol. 9 Issue 1, p35-42, 8p

Document Type:

Article

Subject Terms:

*ELECTRONIC music

Reviews & Products:

REUNION (Theatrical production)

Abstract:

The author chronicles his involvement in Reunion, a 1968 collaborative performance featuring John Cage, Marcel Duchamp and Teeny Duchamp, with electronic music by David Behrman, Gordon Mumma, David Tudor and Lowell Cross. After addressing some misconceptions about Reunion, the author outlines specific details about the conditions surrounding the performance and the sound-distributing chessboard he built, then offers an interpretation of the event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

 

Copyright of Leonardo Music Journal is the property of MIT Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ISSN:

09611215

DOI:

10.1162/096112199750316785

Accession Number:

5337412

Database:

Academic Search Complete

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp