Duchamp on Tape: The Janis Family Interviews

by Marcel Duchamp (Artist)

One of the towering figures of 20th-century art holds forth on his controversial life and career in a previously unpublished set of interviews

Over six sessions between September 1951 and November 1952, Marcel Duchamp sat down with collectors and gallerists Harriet and Sidney Janis for a wide-ranging conversation about his inspirations and working processes, and his many opinions on the workings of the modern art world and its histories. The Janises, owners of the influential Sidney Janis Gallery, were ardent supporters of modern art and close friends with Duchamp. Harriet, an accomplished author, led the interviews with an eye toward writing a monograph on Duchamp, though this was never realized. Now, this previously unknown chronicle is available for the first time through the efforts of Carroll Janis, Sidney and Harriet's son. Under Harriet's expert guidance, Duchamp holds forth on his artistic philosophies, his career, his friends, his rivals and his lifelong obsession with chess. He provides an inside look at some of his most famous works, from his controversial Readymades to The Large Glass. Contextualized with illustrations, annotations and an introduction by Carroll Janis, this publication is a rich treasure trove of information on one of the 20th century's most controversial, groundbreaking and larger-than-life artists.
Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) dismantled the boundaries of what constitutes a work of art. Although he began his career as a painter, Duchamp was also a curator, conservator, art advisor, professional chess player, writer, inventor and celebrity. Following the completion of his conceptual masterpiece, The Large Glass (1915–23), he abandoned traditional artmaking altogether. Today he is best known for his Readymades―ordinary objects such as a urinal or bicycle wheel, elevated to works of art―which challenged traditional aesthetics and redefined authorship.

Genres: Art

150 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Marcel Duchamp (also known as Rrose Sélavy) was a French artist (he became an American citizen in 1955) whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War I Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the Western art world.

While he is most often associated with Dada and Surrealism, his participation in Surrealism was largely behind the scenes, and after being involved in New York Dada, he barely participated in Paris Dada.

Thousands of books and articles attempt to interpret Duchamp's artwork and philosophy, but in interviews and his writing, Duchamp only added to the mystery. The interpretations interested him as creations of their own, and as reflections of the interpreter.

A playful man, Duchamp prodded thought about artistic processes and art marketing, not so much with words, but with actions such as dubbing a urinal "art" and naming it Fountain. He produced relatively few artworks as he quickly moved through the avant-garde rhythms of his time.

Reviews

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

deep and delightful.

[Brandon Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You can play at being serious, you see? That is the only way to do it. If you play at being serious, you can do it. You can be serious for a minute as long as you call it play.”