“Hat Rack” is a sculpture created by Marcel Duchamp in 1917. This ready-made artwork, which is associated with the Dada art movement, is currently housed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Israel.
The artwork consists of a simple, ordinary hat rack that is mounted on the wall. The hat rack, typically a practical household item, is elevated to the status of art purely through Duchamp’s selection and designation. The object is composed of several curved wooden arms radiating outward from a central hub, each terminating in a hook. This assemblage strips the hat rack of its functional purpose, encouraging viewers to see it in a new, aesthetic light. The piece underscores Duchamp’s pioneering approach to art, where the conceptual over the conventional attributes of beauty and craftsmanship are emphasized.
