Notes From Marcel

These quotes by Marcel Duchamp are cited in Alexander Liberman’s 1997 book entitled The Artist In His Studio.

“Today the artist is free, free to die of hunger. An
artist should have no social obligations.”

“If he marries, has children, he very soon becomes a victim. He must earn money to feed his family. Only one person who does not have to be fed is easier than two or three.”

“To increase the number of people around an artist is a calamity.”

“An artist must be an egotist. He must be completely blind to other human beings – egocentric in the grand manner. It is unavoidable, one cannot create great things if he is only half-involved and in doubt.”   ~ Marcel Duchamp