The artwork titled “To Be Looked at (from the Other Side of the Glass) with One Eye, Close to, for Almost an Hour” was created by Marcel Duchamp in 1918, during his time in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This piece is made of oil on glass and belongs to the Dada art movement, known for its avant-garde and often anti-art aesthetic. Measuring 51 x 41.2 cm, this figurative work is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork itself features an intricate assemblage of geometric and linear elements on a glass pane. The viewer’s attention is captured by intersecting lines, circular forms, and a centralized pyramidal structure with a multi-colored striped pattern. These are superimposed on a web of crack-like lines that spread across the glass surface. Incorporated into the composition is a playful instruction, which, along with the title, suggests an unusually long and involved method of viewing—implying a near-meditative engagement with the piece. Duchamp uses both the transparency of the glass and the solidity of the painted forms to challenge traditional perceptions of space and to provoke a deeper engagement from the viewer.
