Marcel's Masterpiece: How a Toilet Shaped the History of Art

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This is the story of Marcel Duchamp and how the Dada art movement changed the way people thought about what art could be, and what could be art. From drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa to attaching a bicycle wheel to a stool, Duchamp's work challenged long-held notions of art and how it should be made. People were amused, confused, and sometimes offended, and that was just the way Marcel Duchamp liked it. With Marcel's Masterpiece, Jeff Mack explores Duchamp's most famous provocation, and asks readers to ponder the ideas that help us see the world in new and interesting ways.

Reviews

"Marcel Duchamp's use of a urinal to challenge assumptions about art in 1917 New York has inherent kid appeal--and Mack exploits the possibilities . . . A funny, clever consideration of an iconic object." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Mixed-media cartooned vignettes, punctuated with collaged elements, including the laugh-out-loud text itself . . . strike just the right balance of headiness and breezy mischievousness for a young audience--innate connoisseurs of pater le bourgeoisie." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

A 2025 Texas Topaz Non-Fiction Pick

Author Bio

Jeff Mack is a children's book author whose books include the Hippo and Rabbit series, Frog and Fly in Six Slurpy Stories, the Clueless McGee books, and Art Is Everywhere: A Book About Andy Warhol. He lives in Western Massachusetts where he continues to write and illustrate books, paint murals, and visit schools and libraries to talk about his work. jeffmack.com