Readymades

Definition

Readymades are ordinary manufactured objects that an artist selects and designates as art, often altering their context or purpose. This concept challenges traditional notions of what constitutes art and emphasizes the role of the artist's intent in the creative process. By appropriating everyday items, readymades provoke questions about originality, creativity, and the value assigned to art.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The term 'readymade' was popularized by artist Marcel Duchamp, who famously selected everyday objects like a urinal and a bicycle wheel to present as art.
2. Readymades were intended to challenge traditional artistic techniques and the emphasis on craftsmanship, shifting the focus to the idea behind the work.
3. Duchamp's readymades blurred the boundaries between art and everyday life, suggesting that anything could be considered art if presented in an artistic context.
4. The concept of readymades paved the way for later movements such as Conceptual Art and Appropriation Art, influencing how artists think about originality and creativity.
5. Critics of readymades often argue that they can undermine the value of traditional artistic skills, while supporters view them as a revolutionary statement on art's evolving definition.

Review Questions

• How do readymades challenge traditional concepts of art and creativity?
  • Readymades challenge traditional concepts of art by suggesting that the artistic value lies not in skill or technique but in the artist's choice and intent. By selecting everyday objects as art, artists like Marcel Duchamp question what qualifies as creative work and provoke discussions about originality. This approach shifts the focus from craftsmanship to context, encouraging audiences to reconsider their definitions of art.
• In what ways did readymades influence later artistic movements such as Conceptual Art and Appropriation Art?
  • Readymades significantly influenced later movements like Conceptual Art and Appropriation Art by emphasizing ideas over physical craftsmanship. Artists began to explore how existing objects could be recontextualized to create new meanings, thus expanding the notion of what constitutes art. This legacy continues to resonate today, as many contemporary artists use similar strategies to challenge viewers’ perceptions and engage with cultural commentary.
• Evaluate the impact of readymades on contemporary discussions around originality and authenticity in art.
  • Readymades have profoundly impacted contemporary discussions around originality and authenticity by complicating these concepts. By asserting that a mere selection can constitute art, they raise questions about authorship and ownership in a world increasingly driven by digital reproduction. This evaluation encourages a reevaluation of how we value artistic expression, pushing boundaries further while also challenging traditional hierarchies in the art world.

Related terms

Dadaism: An avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, rejecting conventional aesthetics and embracing absurdity, chance, and spontaneity in art.

Conceptual Art: An art movement where the concept or idea behind the work is more important than the finished product, often blurring the lines between art and everyday life.

Appropriation Art: A practice in which artists take existing objects, images, or styles and recontextualize them to create new meaning, often questioning authorship and originality.