Duchampian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to the French-American artist Marcel Duchamp, especially his provocative readymades and conceptual approach to art
2. Characteristic of the work of Marcel Duchamp, known for challenging traditional notions of what counts as art
3. Describing the style or ideas associated with the avant-garde artist Marcel Duchamp and his influence on modern art

Etymology: Marcel Duchamp was the French-born artist who, in 1917, submitted a porcelain urinal signed "R. Mutt" to an exhibition in New York and helped redefine what counted as art. "Duchampian" is the adjective made from his surname, and it describes work that follows his habit of challenging what art is: ready-made objects chosen for their ideas rather than their craftsmanship, and deliberate provocations aimed at the art world's assumptions. The word is formed in the plainest way possible: the surname "Duchamp" with the English adjectival suffix "-ian", the same ending found in words like "Shakespearean" and "Freudian" that are built on the names of famous figures. The suffix is attached to the name in its original form, so the word keeps the French spelling of the artist's surname.