Duchamp

Associated early on with cubism, Dadaism and surrealism, Duchamp quickly outgrew these ideologies of art and created an oeuvre so compelling and mysterious as to become its own category (although the artist probably would not approve of such a classification). Bailly records Duchamp's early experiments in painting and his obsessive avoidance of repetitionwhich eventually led to his attitude of ambivalence and shrewd skepticism toward definitions of art and artists. Bailly provides intelligent commentary on the ""readymades,'' ``Given:'' and many other works. The volume contains excellent illustrations, a selected bibliography and a chronology. A very useful introduction to an important 20th century artist. (September)