Traveler's Folding Item
| Artist | Marcel Duchamp (French, 1887–1968) |
|---|---|
| Title | Traveler's Folding Item (Pliant de voyage) |
| Date | 1964 edition (authorized replica after 1917 original) |
| Medium | Black vinyl typewriter cover and painted wooden stand |
| Dimensions | Overall: 33 1/2 x 16 3/4 x 13 1/2 in. (85.1 x 42.5 x 34.3 cm) |
| Credit Line | Partial gift of Mrs. William H. Conroy, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 71.37.8 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A tripod with a rectangular top over which an "Underwood" typewriter cover has been placed. The case has the shape of a trapezoid and is a glossy black in color.
In appropriating an Underwood typewriter cover as a readymade, Duchamp introduced a soft or pliable material into his work, creating what might be termed the first “soft sculpture” in western art. The work’s mysterious nature—what lies beneath the typewriter cover? And what does the title really mean?—foreshadows the sense of mystery and eroticism cultivated by the Surrealists.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Traveler's Folding Item | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=71.37.8