The artwork entitled “Study for ‘Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. Illuminating Gas'” was created by Marcel Duchamp around 1949 in France. Executed in collage, this piece belongs to the Surrealism art movement, specifically categorized under the genre of sketch and study. It is currently housed in the Moderna Museet, located in Stockholm, Sweden.
The artwork features a fragmented, almost abstract depiction of a human figure. Dominated by soft, earthy tones, the piece appears to show a partially nude torso with sections of the body obscured or wrapped in textured materials. The form is contoured against a background that enhances its three-dimensional effect, merging the boundaries between the human body and the surroundings. The unconventional composition and material usage evoke a surreal and thought-provoking atmosphere, characteristic of Duchamp’s innovative approach to art and the broader Surrealist movement.
