I recently read that the most shocking thing about that urinal Duchamp submitted to a contest was the inscription “R. Mutt” I’m sorry to sound ignorant, but was is so shocking about that inscription? Is it some kind of vulgar slang?
I’m not sure, but I was under the impression that he submitted the work under the name R. Mutt and didn’t tell anyone he did it (at least not right away).
Was R. Mutt the name of the urinal manufacturer? I seem to remember this but I could be wrong
From SFMOMA:
I can’t find any obscene references to the Mutt name; however, when Duchamp painted a moustache over the Mona Lisa, he titled this work L.H.O.O.Q., which, when the letters are read out in French, sounds like “elle a chaud au cul,” or “she has a hot ass.”
And it can be seen in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, along with most of his other works such as the Large Glass. At the time, around 1913 I believe, people were shocked that an artist would sign a urinal and call it art. Duchamp called those pieces “ready mades”. I think signing it “R Mutt” was just his way of messing with people’s minds a little bit more.
thanks for y’all’s replies. I’m an art 'tard
Like many of Duchamp’s readymades, the “original” Fountain no longer exists. Duchamp made many replicas of them, which is what you’ll see in most museums (there are a few original pieces, like the Large Glass–but most Duchamps are actually replicas made by Duchamp, which raises all kinds of questions about art objects and museum displays).
I’ve never thought the “R. Mutt” signature was particularly offensive, just kind of messing with people’s minds as Ave Minerva points out. I think the title “Fountain” is more offensive, when you consider the context of a urinal–but only if you have no sense of (absurd) humor.