Andrew Russeth at Artnet:
Duchamp did leave behind some gnomic quips—“Intrinsic value has a greater density than relative value” (I don’t know what that means)—and some crisp writing. In a poem about Crotti, she declared, “He believes in everything—accepts everything—denies everything—sells 60 cylinder cars—loses and wins—makes games and invents reasons for living.” Another intriguing fact: Her compatriots adored her. Writing under a pseudonym, Picabia declared, “Suzanne Duchamp does more intelligent things than paint.” There can be no higher praise from him.
Was Duchamp a major artist? Her work mocks such a question. She made a few stunners—Dadaist riddles—and then proceeded to do as she pleased. Today, as artists are pressured to articulate their thinking, to please the market and to perform for curators, she models a different approach. In 1926, an interviewer asked her to explain her practice. Her reply was direct: “Why does one want to explain everything?”
more here.
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