The artwork entitled “Transition of Virgin into a Bride” was crafted by Marcel Duchamp in 1912. It is an oil on canvas piece, measuring 59 by 53.5 centimeters, and embodies the ideals of the Cubist movement. This figurative artwork resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, New York, United States.
Upon examining the artwork, it is immediately notable for its fragmented and abstracted form, common to Cubist art, which seeks to depict subjects from multiple viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context. The painting is composed of earthy and neutral tones, arranged in such a way that they suggest the complex transition referenced in the title. Lines and planes intersect and overlap, creating a dynamic tension and sense of movement across the canvas. The patchwork-like composition of shapes invites the viewer to consider the transformation theme and the metamorphosis from one state of being to another. The evocation of the human form is subtle and not immediate, requiring contemplation to discern the underlying subject amidst the abstract geometrical forms.
