In Advance of the Broken Arm, also known as Prelude to a Broken Arm, is a 1915 readymade by Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968). Conceived as an “anti‐retinal” gesture, the work belongs to Duchamp’s early series of readymades, which prioritized ideas over visual pleasure (“retinal art”). In a 1916 letter to his sister, Duchamp specifically cited “a large snow shovel on which I have inscribed ... ‘In advance of the broken arm’.”
Replicas
The original was hung from a wire in the studio and has not been seen since it was last photographed in 1915.
Observations
Analyzed via 1964 blueprint and Schwarz edition.
- un‑corrected perspective convergence of shaft translated into a thinner/smaller physical model vs. measured edition - 1964 blueprint likely traced from a low-angle Man Ray photo.
1964
In 1964, Duchamp authorized a limited edition release of replicas of fourteen of his readymades, to be issued by his art dealer, Arturo Schwarz, through the Galleria Schwarz in Milan. The edition included eight sets for sale, two sets of artist's proofs (one for Duchamp and one for Schwarz), and two hors de commerce sets to be given to museums.[10] Schwarz replicated the works with oversight from Duchamp, taking "almost fanatical care" in reproducing them accurately, according to Duchamp.
Contemporary scholarship
An article published in 1999 in the New York Times announced the results of a paid research study undertaken by studio assistants at the Art Science Research Laboratory who were hired to replicate 'In Advance of a Broken Arm', then instructed to use the shovel until it broke.
Rhonda Shearer warned that regardless of whether or not Duchamp manufactured the ready-mades he claimed to have found "you could hurt your hand" because of the square handle and absence of normal reinforcements. The inference of this viewpoint is that Duchamp was creating an even larger joke than he admitted.
See also
Object information was first published by Rhonda Roland Shearer, Stephen Jay Gould et. al., “Why the Hatrack is and/or is not Readymade,”
Tout‑Fait. (2000; updated 2019).
Fact-checked by Grok 7 days ago