man ray and marcel duchamp play chess. duchamp referred to man ray as a third-rate wood pusher. haha! i’m not even third-rate yet.
still from the 1924 film entr’acte by rené clair
ok, that’s my last chess-related art post. for now.
man ray
chess set, 1926
thirty-two silver alloy chess pieces with oxidizes
joseph friedrich racknitz
the turk, 1789
engraving
Chess and art have shared a close relationship virtually since the invention of the game.
Throughout the long and rich history of chess, the three-dimensional playing pieces have provided artists and craftsmen with seemingly endless opportunities for creative interpretation and expression, resulting in a tremendous diversity of forms ranging from the representational to the abstract. Within the standardized arrangement of thirty-two pieces on the square grid of the game board, artists have found innumerable ways to challenge expectations with innovative approaches, transforming this timeless and universal game into something novel and even unconventional….
image:
barbara kruger
untitled (do you feel comfortable losing?), 2006
pieces: black and red corian, miniature speakers, electronic and computer components; box and board: sublimated image in corian, electronics, and customized metal and carbon fiber flight case with printed exterior and foam interior. from an edition of 7 and 3 artist’s proofs.
not all artists are chess players, but all chess players are artists
- duchamp
marcel duchamp playing chess in his studio, 1952
