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Fountain
© Association Marcel Duchamp/Bildupphovsrätt 2026
Fountain
Fountain
Photo: Albin Dahlström/Moderna Museet

Fountain

by Marcel Duchamp
Artist (Frankrike, 1887 - 1968)
Replica executed by (Sverige, 1929 - 2013)
Alternate Title
  • Fontän
Date1917/1963
MediumPorcelain
Dimensions33 x 42 x 52 cm
Classification
Credit LineReplik av ready-made utförd 1963 av Ulf Linde. Donation 1965 från Moderna Museets Vänner
Object NumberNMSK 1884
CollectionsModerna Museets Vänner
The artwork is not on display
About the artwork When a newly purchased urinal signed "R. Mutt" was submitted anonymously to the Independent Artists’ exhibition in New York in 1917, it was thrown out. It didn’t look like art, so it wasn’t, they said. Moreover, it was obscene, or possibly a joke. Marcel Duchamp claimed that this was obviously a work of art, since the intention was to display "Fountain" in an exhibition space. This statement launched an entirely new art concept. That there were ideas behind art was nothing new, but the thought that the idea alone could transform something into art was revolutionary. By removing a mass-produced object from its useful purpose, it could be given a new meaning. Readymade was the term Duchamp began using in the early 1900s. Original and copy are ambiguous concepts in relation to Duchamp: most works are replicas and reconstructions made according to his consultation and signed by him. This particular one was bought from a restaurant in Stockholm. Description Replik av ready-made utförd av Ulf Linde 1963 Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerat överst i mitten på undersidan: "pour copie conforme/Marcel Duchamp", Påskrift framtill till vänster på utsidan av porslinsföremålet, "R. Mutt 1917" Selected exhibition history Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall (2003) Malmö Konsthall Implosion. Ett postmodernt perspektiv / A Postmodern Perspective (1987-1988) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Marcel Duchamp (den 19 mars 2011 - den 11 september 2011) Moderna Museet Malmö Dada-utställningen (1966) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Hyllningar - Moderna Museets Vänner 50 år (2003) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2019-2022 (den 1 februari 2019 - den 27 augusti 2023) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Den underjordiska himlen. Surrealism i Moderna Museets samling (den 26 oktober 2024 - den 17 januari 2027) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Picasso/Duchamp "He was wrong" (den 25 augusti 2012 - den 3 mars 2013) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Sju rum och en trädgård. Rashid Johnson och Moderna Museets samling (den 28 september 2023 - den 22 september 2024) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Dada : meddelande från Moderna Museets vännerMästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]Implosion : ett postmodernt perspektiv : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 24/10 1987 - 10/1 1988]The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]De Ou Par Marcel Duchamp : Par Ulf Linde : [Moderna Museet Stockholm/Konstakademien 29/9-13/11 2011]Picasso/Duchamp "He was wrong" : [Moderna Museet , Stockholm 25/8 2012-3/3 2013]Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall : [Malmö Konsthall : 8 februari - 4 maj 2003]