Bouteille Belle Haleine : Eau de Voilette de Marcel Duchamp
1921
Bouteille Belle Haleine : Eau de Voilette de Marcel Duchamp
1921
Belle Haleine : Eau de Voilette (1921) by Marcel Duchamp is a perfume bottle bearing the image of the artist's alter ego, Rrose Sélavy.
This ready-made is based on an amalgam of allusive wordplay and connotations. Duchamp reversed the letters of the French word "violette" (violet) on the original label to replace it with "voilette" (veil) and hint at the expression "Eau de toilette". The words "Belle Haleine" (Nice Breath) are a humorous nod to "Belle Hélène" (Beautiful Helen). The artist also played with the concept of authorship, making Rrose Sélavy not only a muse but also the maker of the work.
| Domain | Photo |
|---|---|
| Techniques | Négatif au gélatino bromure d'argent sur verre |
| Dimensions | 12 x 9 cm |
| Acquisition | Don de M. Lucien Treillard, 1995 |
| Inventory no. | AM 1995-281 (560) |
On display:
Detailed description
| Artist |
Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky, dit)
(1890, États-Unis - 1976, France) |
|---|---|
| Main title | Bouteille Belle Haleine : Eau de Voilette de Marcel Duchamp |
| Other title | Belle Haleine |
| Creation date | 1921 |
| Domain | Photo |
| Techniques | Négatif au gélatino bromure d'argent sur verre |
| Dimensions | 12 x 9 cm |
| Acquisition | Don de M. Lucien Treillard, 1995 |
| Collection area | Cabinet de la photographie |
| Inventory no. | AM 1995-281 (560) |