thirteen ways of looking at a virgin scan

25
Thirt en ways oflooking at a virgin: Francis Pi a ia' La Sainte Vierge ELIZ \IH' I II L E CCoI:: ... ('I (UII!!,"" kmmt.''t um lillI.' .1IIc.il'llnc rl ull l1uU\cau rhdgrln! I" ,\ aml, l irw. III l 1'"lIli,l1<"d ill the \I arch ",ue or I" ran r i, Pit'a !> ia', jonrnal.'Jf)l, i ,I dt'plt'dillioll of tilt' l) ,lc!aI J.ilkrnlurf \ fOl1ct"'rn, \\ ill. and "VMlilig. a:-; wdl.lo;; Pici lbia \ () \\-n abmll im .. 1 11 n11e ctollonlieaJ and inc. 'o l ilill('ni Kc ... (he illkhl()t 1\ .) litt'r:1I po'(SCripll hrll II m,I\ \ ..ifill Jilli dmwill\!; flj.,,'·urt: I' , :.u I I thal cluc' s TInt privilq.W ilw wo rd I)\·c r 1111' im,lgr. hv In·jllg blotl t"d UUI, Picani a\ In V,lIIl f J Ul!!/ ' j:-, f-itllcr lhr \,j,u. Li l'('pn''\,·nli.t1 iun ,a drawin ' CJI (,f tilt, \ 'il L..,ni, or the textual des(,ription ',a prayrr 1o tht: \ 'i rgill or it"t'lf J vllnlt' ringr is OJ rcpn's("lltatiull of a \ il : md a n:rullal In hl' e ither a \'1 r!;{il I C II ,I ff'prr""·llt.lliUlI . II Inight he 0111' (If .,\t.ts' nc sio.'1 wd • I . " ,J , ', , \ -.: ' , j ., t' " , , ,' " " " .. r , " " .' ". 'I ,''''· I , ". ", I I 'f' ,. J /,'.' , ... '. , . I .• , . \' .... \ 'J', ,- I !' .I, .' , (' •• ..J' , ' I ... " \f t " · · .I.' '., .. . '" I -, " .., . '. - '. , , - . ". -' , ' ,, ,. I ' I.' , :. "", , . "" .. 'J4?, '. .. , ;,. .. /f , •• . " fI I /' . , (I " ' .- ' . ' . /,1 ' ., . f . • ' "f Y" '. " .,. I'. 'I. ' .' \ I l'!"iLllti / 'M,'I"WU(\ l"ln,.. 111 ",rt"d' ftollh!oJ JlJI'I 1'):1" nl U h\lt:"I fl.", ,,It ,1', \l hmtM""l " 11') 11 ,f).I , :J I" 'CUI't, lIIi",11I he' fllll", 1 .Ull" kl >hriUllk 11it-,utl"" I.kphn\.' hi li .. \ 1",h.I1" 1 tJn,.nJl\IIIU "I ... IW.MI "1'I't'. II!.IUI./I In I'M/11ft £:hl£.II(lI. \\' J I \hl l h .1 I.ut 1I1.llilll{ '"' nun ' (.r r !.ph,.... .lIad Ih t nll, .. 1 ulIl'ln .&11111 .. Ilu, f"II1t;l\, ""'JJl lll IIJrfi,rt 111I1I!,1 1. ... (' hook IIIUI .a"Utlllt, lIIillil ""'I"\\"' .t '.111 'Itltulrllinll' Ilf It I ,'"m' I "lItd, "k .tlti.t I.A .w,,, lI,.'II. diu"'" I'm R\ prod all ... 1 In 19', lJ.&.ri I.! 1I}1t' ,,'l·r,Il, ! ·".lnj"A. ! III1""I\4I /fI' " "

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Page 1: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

Thirt en ways oflooking at a virgin Francis Pi a ia La Sainte Vierge

ELIZ IH I II L E CCoI

(I (UII lt ~ kmmtt um lillI 1IIcilllnc ima~fmiddot rl ull l1uUcau rhdgrln

I aml l irw III l 1lIlil1ltd ill the Iarch 9~(J ue or I ranr i Pit agtia DMI~1 jonrnalJf)l i I ~ho rlhalld dtpltdillioll of tilt P~lri l) lcaIJilkrnlurf

~roup fOl1ctrn ill l anl~ua~r and VMlilig a- wdllo Pici lbia () -n (onnrll~

abmll im lI~tamakim~ 111 n11e ctollonlieaJ and inco l ilill(ni Kc tLl rr~ (he illkhl()t 1 ) littr1I po(SCripll hrll II mI ril ill~ ifill Jilli dmwill fljmiddoturt I u I iconod~Ln I thal clucs TInt privilqW ilw word I)middotc r 1111 imlgr Paradllxi(dl~ hv Inmiddotjllg

blotl td UUI Picania I n VlIIlf JUl j- f-itllcr lhr juLi l(pnmiddotnlit1 iun a

drawin CJI I MilHin~ (f tilt il Lni or the textual des(ription a prayrr 1o tht i rgill bull or ittlf J I~I vllnlt ringr is OJ rcpns(lltatiull of a il ~II md a nrullal In hl either a 1 ril I C II I ffprrmiddotlltlliUlI II Inight he 0111 (If tllf~o( middot tts ncsio1wd

bull I J - j bull t

r Imiddot

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f bullbull~ fI I bull (I

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I liLllti Iljmiddotlh~ MIWU( ~ lln L~III 111 rtd ftollhoJ f~rrt) JlJII 1)1 nl U hltI fl It 1lhmtMl IPIfl~ 11)

11 f)I

J I CUIt Iirrc~ lIIi11I he fllll 1 l)1rdflJII~ UllklgthriUllk 11it-utl Ikphn hili 1hI1 1 ~nllr

tJnnJlIIIU I IWMI 1It IIIUII In IM11ft 7~ poundhlpoundII(lI II~II J I hll h middot ~i 1 Iut 1I1llilll nun (r r ph lIad Ih t nll 1ulIlln amp11111 Ilu

fII1tl JJllll IIJrfirt 111I1I1 1( ~hhhdrl

hook IIIUI aUtlllt lIIillil I t 111

Itltulrllinll Ilf It I m

t-i~If I lItd k tltit IA w I~

lIII III~ diu Im UlllOI~I1

R prodall 1In 19 lJampri I ~Ilrh 1I1t

lmiddotrIl middotlnjA III1I4IfI

3 - For an importanl discussion or relal cd matler sce David Hopkins QuesLionil1g Dadas potency Pkabias La SainLt Vurgt and the dialogue with Duchamp All

Hiswry 15 (1992) pp 333 set pp 325~6 on Mallarl1lcs Un Omp dt dis

4 Ecrib p 217

precisely so that the public will understand nothing (an ambition declared by Picabia in the same issue of 391) for it will be argued here the viewers response is implicated in La Sainte Vierge

As David Hopkins has pointed out the blot goes back to Stephane Mallannes fretting at the virgin white page (appuyer selon la page au blanc ) or canvas (which as toile is also the sail of the ship of Fortuna who sails through Mallannes Un Coup de des and who might be held responsible for the spillage of ink) Where Mallannes word constellations are situated on the page in a meticulous simulation of random distribution Picabias splatter is conspicuously out of control At the same time as La Sainte Vierges appearance Picabia could evoke Mallannean sensibility with pious insincerity in his response to H-R Lenonnands accusation (Comoedia March 1920) that Dada was pathological Nous tendons vers Ie Blanc considere comme une entite psychique ou pour concretiser cette tendance grace aux rapports immuables de la couleur et de la musique nous tendoms vers Ie la pur = 435 vibrations Picabia of course would be equally capable of evoking newspaper advertisements for the annual white sales at Paris department stores overlaying this commercial whiteness onto the Mallannean Blanc (figure 2)

IU DCB -

Maison A BOUCICAUT

PARIS

JI((I 3 FEJ IllER 11 jour BllilJOlltB

Figure 2 Advenisemcllt ror whilc sale 31 Au ampn MarriIJ in I~ F(~TO I February [920

~In imm el ial I) rAJ Sill lngnctI11 wi Il l llli-CaliignlphlC poem a ntgal ill~ homagr to Guillaume Apoliinaircs LiLlli~nts tspcri311y lhosc lnvoh illg a mctonymic rli rtatiull vili womat I absorbed into lhe I)(xlv or text PiealJ ia lonckn_Ci- lhi~ to wom11I a intrauault blol Pi nbia ii not ilill1pl~

l u ~ukjJ IK hi old frilaquond in CSlilfclt iun~ of repll~tnliuinl1 I)) Inri anrl image LIlt visuaJ insemination of writun langlla~c He j a iso pushi ng lite p(llrnti ~11

or riling W pic-tun rorth its COlllt nt to a logical i)uta nmdllsiull PiCabia illkhlul a I t1l ibTam do lot drnb itgt 11jcll lUll (111) imdurihly iNlt oridrblo(kinglhc rcpresenJaunnu rallibm 1111 amlin1lt i r(presenl indcfillitdy hC Caulc as an amOlvhous sharK il (an be read into II rrprcscnb II lh( thin~ Ihm could Ix sllbUlulCd fiJr Ih i nla~ or he middotirgi ll

(Joe pruto-Dadbullbull ancrstor uf PicaLia virgil hlol i ~ In h4- foun d in I Glrtnnn

in IlI1 Ril)s UrcllcIhcl1 RidgifJ (avok fic ilin I)ninlillg nr inkblol b Kumofr T II wa a d wcS) hil nf~xual hUII1)Ur aimtd a t post middotArmory - ho- abslraniull indurJin~ Picabias unlod~ld wilhin a I~lrg(f par-nd) of lfrcd SliegliLL 291 hen PirbiR lonk I the mlllif ag-tiJl il a Illorr au11 I (i LII Saw I 111 b-Inn~ In Ihe Illor indelill lradiuo of hlaspl my ilnd il L it rfal il1 khlnt l nol l (nick approxlmalinll of Due

10 have Ihe impact uf a p l ofallOltiulI tlu- biOI nlUit all nn auctioned ftpnirllll i nn~ (f lu Olc~Slmiddott1 illri ll ill sonlt OI y r nli~ ii Ull(lJi lO an

IIndnIlI1tiin) 01 lilt laiJllilll( it ni dr (rll7I 11IS parnciic blclillllllarl l fi~lr( If Pkahia rrfcTs 10 the ~L01tuS 0 1 rdigiPlls un rapllaJizing- on lhc delunct ~Lumpl ion ofan aura dClivcd rroJU foI ItTt iC rC li ~ous a)uCs utd lptt-tel1tl It is lISO impon anllo iwtlILn Shiftlt JitTgt iii tI l consulialiun ot concern) or Iicabia lnd hi ((ILlClgtl~ at lhl linlt middotI~(iII) art allt w ligion In Lit Salllr

f rTKi Pitahia l~ not jU~1 adapling lhii Dadl d1 hi all n a or mutually cliscrcdiung arl nel religion He IS 01 0 inl( Ih imp licalion or lItl dc ouollal imagc to prop1 J lie modd for Iht ork oran and its exhibili() lI I IOLI I iJlg Ic~ tha n ~ n rorm or(unlumiddott Iltlwcmiddot(~n vi(~ rr aJ1 i~1 and vi~utl ork (wcightcd h(av i l~ J1 rwor tIl 1 1 [C f PiCabia wanted at an t~ (on nlonw L

10 -Jaillfr Ilttll appeared Uti pa~f lllrcf or 1) a ~~ pCllcltnt ur ripostr tu brcci nuritAmp~ J fln iLla illl n mnllslaciw UlfHJ(b Oil pa~ImiddotI)lI( r lL1 SUtllft

111 hy 11ll cumpal1 sill knplt in 31 (1JI1HJlI and liol1ilaquo Inl Iprmlf (lrnmlfr iii CaM imo di~rcpUlC Bul there is more tn 111 Sllwlt i l(rw than simple i(xual slunder Picabi t playil1~ with Dur harllp s prusaec ur irgin [U brid( had lO)oT 1 with tht ir~1I plgr )r Ltnmiddotas 1Stil( nbjCCI nf l -cuLLI drft-nilizini pmee rially in hi cIJlIdnfl1 for f n Iilll n Hln lin or 19 La Smilie l ingt i a COJ1(knsalio n 01 aU L1w pxycho-$(xlial machine portrai~ the oil staill len allcr the mechanic i hnislwd

Pi ra bia liflcd ehe phmse and i[ka of Ia fillt- n ltlI mlre liOtn Ihe [rtil larOlllrr pink pag Iii Ltclll and r reil1 pit rn II 1ld I ulk 0 illlo ae 1Il1 Ihal the Lale lag rrulll (kids IrlalllorlilOel prolcm inc mlIr crraUllll is explained l illle as mlarUn~ nOI only lilal ltOOlclhing ha nlt1l1lulhn

hut also Ihul somelhw J il a n(1 uwdd he noLioH nfhamiddoting no mOlhtr Ulk(~ us ohviouly lU Iicabiu IIJtIll-made machine Bm ~~ reltd pan or Ihe 1Uou r definilion h1ling no model raises the likelihood lhal licltLbia was heinH irOllie aboul mimetic drt ror most certainly his Ill3Chin( rljcl have mockk -n trV wrl( cop ied elir l lly rrom Ie hnir1 illuSlmtiOIb d Ih ~ chr~[ o rpltgia llt 1middot dld gain1 Picahi en hi mrcllanical tirawing had uch idenlifiab le models Picabi ba~s his machines on mod~ls lid litc

iH) EL I 1 DI-TH LEG( E

l ~ ul Mm Mhll IJ II_Ii rtLIIwu

Ylr~ U~IIJ pi n ( (Inl) l)Owu to apllI11 I~II 1111 fl) HH~ IlkJf~ lIatPr (annl ur r rl pullanunmiddot allli hUmu

ti I h~illl(Intilll ilL t ()Id~middot~ IJtrlflll

p n1 II 11 liLl C CIt Illi PPf mil

Illln 01l1iIO 1t11I bull J1C111 lllirl tf fI

11 Hf 1Il(1kllllo [II U D1ukbirtl pulllWlt-d

in Otlnh~1 lIj In ()p llJI Jhnflgt(JrrJIIfr 00 Iff Ult tlll nil_ 01~

IIhlrd h J~l -rf1111 Ull ~1I11 lwei

heroll pm lht Xc Y Ilrk nn In frr1luInlcd 11 l1udllIl1P I1ml [ic4hi1 II hn Ilfl4hill~ 1lTtT11o1 rJl ll h Pi IYImiddotr bl1f k 11It11 hol ~I~I~ 1111 tl hhlL hmr- Ifl

bull I1l1lnlIn il tit InII1411I -1lM thll II rl Lllln~ IIUlto hilf mrfltr i illill

tJf trImiddot nt Itl ~ middot rh rmiddot l1)(middot Ill ~hlldl I Il dLL~n~ ur tho htltUludl CrIJA(d n III mel lIu 1lw 1n(J(lfll middotiI bull ut 1

ill II K ~hadO1 n illdN-iphrn If UUSImiddot u1i litmiddot rrHJf1II110 Ilwt dm lQ1n Ihlll~

t1 lH [T1I1 I IIIIrJ)tWt u~ hl~

7 11ILIJilunr III twk( bull r l ~ iIl JIJ )t(

1 uIIIIIlJIMII W~middot lite H~1jftd (fJJ

1II(h 1111~J JllliJUlh he Lint 1111 WImiddot d lI1qti1h

H It j gt1 fIlhl Iirlm fVo dmR nr

IhltiuUIlP IJlarJlltlJA AIpuro III ~yl

UNC un 11 litllli IU~ JMH Iud lt1

I)ru(ulr illl1T I in Immtnwlt hll

jjrJlJf lit IOn h1I1 torr 1h( HJlllllf 01 dl middotuutJvmiddot P1n II Jwtl h(11 JWIlnuni In lUll ltIMMI lmd( lit Ihmiddot lint rm 01111 lullIltlIUnl tI J iul~n 1Jti Orlidr IltIV k rutltht III 11rnll- I n~IIfJC1~lm

fJnrr(J1i afoL p bullbullbit III npim hImiddot 100 hluf rrflT In lht prinflplr t [ 1 hIlI ibulllboon to us ~~h r It hrlu 1111 1dtlillilJli JI middotJJ(dtM m~r Lt Ilrlr dtu Ih~ imc=rthmlllbilil 1 UXI( lind Jo(im is m ltlHrh mrl~I)1q( u Ih( WlUi

l ILTOlill o( hI l1lamil~ nl (linP HJtI

Irn 1 jLI ~ Hmln h J-=lh1 ml ~ hr p

Q tiui lJlI~l llo1r ~I r rw ol 1(1)gt- )J 1)1) t l -)

III 11 lrlPn 1 )1 IUI1I1 flllll 1

I Ii lurid nI(middotltIph~(uI q p(ill Itllili 11 mJ1r 1- ulJltn V lnndllll

l(fTl bull Ill IN 11

denies Iht modI UOIl) with the mother 1u nUn1to Ihe ir~i ll Mary hsdf might be proped) rol1ltidrnd ro lle nee am men in 0 fcr the C lIltol ir (IonnIH orhtr Il tllnaultf C onn plil)tl TntUlllhal)Wf ((ual connptiun and

hirth hy iI llalUril1 mothe-I JS glos-ed uver1n ~l nrf tpdy as ~I al) j POSilld as IIw modd ror aU om(n sh i herselfit hou model Pi(lhia La StllIllt

I middoti~f far from lx-jug ithollt a mudd i a (lra[inu~ ftp proprillion or ( Ihlishld iconugraphil nlodd of Ihe i rJ~ II

22 [

I

At Erst g-lancc La Sain6~ Jingtcynically repres(middot nl s t l l(~ Vin~lll by hcr dchnin t attribute - th t tltJ uivalent o f the i n~trumrnUi u r IlLLlnyrs to rturc o r d ismemberrd body p ilrt held a ll a tray - CXr[middotptlhH (( H Pi caLia lhi auri bme is p r(c i ~w l y Ihe ~ Itill lha t according lo a ll traditinnal prayers and hymns to her sh tmiddot lad ts Seign e ur il ny a pru de -souillufc ni AuroJl loci e n vo tn M(~ft tli Pi cabias ink stain doc~ itann ro r the blood of d fi kmf n t 1 But it llso stands for bodily secrc tion ~ ~lhogCthC r and rhese wit b two nOl ahlt c - ecpLio ns al not al ln-vc-d to the Virgin

The Virbrin is tm diti onall) associated with liqll id s~ nlH)UI ~lJ l d cents ~l

vocabulal)middot now app ropria(nl to shampoo and ltkpprop liauly feminine hygiene product in which lh ert is a simibr d ispl a cmcn t o r un LLciptabl bodily sccrc finn s illlo aromJl iC substitutes Thi s vocahulary originates in lhr Song ofSQnb~ your loe is belle lhilIl winc your alloi nti llg lib arc fragranl your n 1 me i~ oil poured ou t The V irgi n ma be cinnarrwtl roc oin lme nt that tJkco poison out oC venom de w honey pt rrumc ] So lica hia Vin~ill -as-ink is ajoke lt) 11 h r othe r ramiliar liqu ids he i a bioi to be binned (frlm) that i) to Iw d ried rather lhan the hllrn irl rCflple lld~lntc aurnrc nuec p luvlcu e who might be cn lreated to lai ssc [rmiddotJlOmber la I WI le du cie l

or hulllcctc[rJ dOllremcn t Ie cocur adde lot to me nt ion u10thcr source of li qui d the blood 01 ti l( V irgin o r C hI bleedi ng IlIa rl a nd the comlll ollpilCt or br ing wai IHd or watered li ke a pl ant in lhu pre- ious blood Religious images tha t s(Clt l l blood lr-a( heal ing Ili a rc a widD p rcaci miracle )nd Pirahia hl S his --ay with t he imagebullbullh well t ~ tht

iru ll o~Japh~r

In C atholic iconography ~hc Vi rhr1 u Iv ru allOl cd on lo ltHT t middotp t~lblc

secretion milk a nd t(arlgt wh ilC a nd culou llcss I lopkin ha~ arg ued tha I in UJ Smnlr Vin~e ink sta nd s lo r Ihe bloudsmin of defioral ion [I shuld be added th at scxuaUy shed lJlvolt a lso stands lor tJ1C various iroul rxcn tilJIIs vr m nstrua tio n and ch ilrlb inhr tbi d l in lurn stand lar horiih turruplion a nd morta lity in the Augustmiddotinia n tra dition h Ch ildbirth ir not a com parably phobic vision may hac hcr n Oil Picabins mind at the llmt of his Lxccw iun or La Srll lf Vihgt as his wif G-Iuriclk Bllrffl Hud his Jll istnss GrTJll ili liC

En rl ing had recently hmiddotcn hirLh tn h i SUI1 $ V ice nte a nd Lnrr-llZ() i ll

Scptt JlIiJer 1919 and Janu a l) 192() lspcn ivdy IT ht fc are ftcr all lO survivi ng- vtl~ions o La SamJc VilTge

I1illia111 Camfield proposes tha I Pictiia ge lure te n lion i ha~ i c)I ly

maslUrbatorymiddot i If ZO it -middotoll ld be a blasphtmous co rrupt ion or til e fcnili li llg Annun ciation ecne This wa or looking a t lh in g drt~ lhl Vilmiddotvcr inlw llie ptTVaSImiddotc realm of fkp h rasi~ the wriu cn descri p tion or a i uU representa tion often a -middoturk (I f art a it h )s recently )((n propos(d by W J T ~lilChel l Milhell mc Aalbce S ICCI1S poem AneedI or )11 J m ill u) tra tion ot the verbill roujllring up or dIe fem 1e irn )gc T hi N II(

argues has darker overl o ncs of pornngrapltic -riring allel ma~lurb ~lIr) r~

fanlasy nf1 rvrilchd l describes S tevens ba rren jar lS a wom b 0 1 a more aClin nega tion fruitfull y multipl ying irs own stcrili t throughout its d Ol11 in io ns +I

The jar once presumably a comajn cr fo r prf ~C f ed Jood i an tpt mf taphor for sI crile fruitlul lLCSS It surdy also (OnjU tTS up the COll1ln lH lphl(tmiddot o f lhe Vi rgi n MaJY as jJure middotcssd or the Lord a nd Mil chcll hrnd wa) 01 loo ki n~ is equally applicaiJie to Pica bd IJI SaiI IIrrll

ll2 ELI Z ABE rl l I 10 u n

) I s fpitcm JedKallfltl 11 fnhltlli d Ilnu IA ~ lim IHll (lIt1I87$ 2 ll -p li n~ (-LL~41(lllrm Oulbullbull OTtD

If4Ufm

lI T tflh LrUtumiddot Iwmn Iu Ihl middotirgjIL tit nnn JA aurt~ lin)y I W I ~

I~ l1~d T II III

ll ( 11 1111111( R~nhJum-U(lndai

middotl1rJr rtl prf nr Fnm 0 JI IJlri ~Iuiff ( IIilri- dc I ~ (tL 1Qft l P 116

III JrTltI IltUIl 61 iltl Ju St pp)tJ middotb 11 nfc(iw( 10 Albcnu~ l 1~lD

dr-JI bullbull Purl lind ~I tlgtJMlintmiddot ~tltr (In hls

I rlur rrom W illiam CUl lfilld 10

Llitbc1h l rwgl middot I I~middot II)C) I

la ~l iKlJrU ~(fJ(lr 7~middot ll Ittlt

III lind pp 11l7 lJIl

l

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

n Jl h3

In In

II Gtu~ RUKI1101IImiddotI)t5i1ll(llto

~~tJ~ J~mlf Jrtir(l1 l+Ull l IkIIlfl

J IiJtJ JIam in Imiddot II

8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

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I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

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t I W lil

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llI f 111 ~

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

L

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nllw middot

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pn I -I

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liI

d1 ( middot1

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lu lIn

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11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 2: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

3 - For an importanl discussion or relal cd matler sce David Hopkins QuesLionil1g Dadas potency Pkabias La SainLt Vurgt and the dialogue with Duchamp All

Hiswry 15 (1992) pp 333 set pp 325~6 on Mallarl1lcs Un Omp dt dis

4 Ecrib p 217

precisely so that the public will understand nothing (an ambition declared by Picabia in the same issue of 391) for it will be argued here the viewers response is implicated in La Sainte Vierge

As David Hopkins has pointed out the blot goes back to Stephane Mallannes fretting at the virgin white page (appuyer selon la page au blanc ) or canvas (which as toile is also the sail of the ship of Fortuna who sails through Mallannes Un Coup de des and who might be held responsible for the spillage of ink) Where Mallannes word constellations are situated on the page in a meticulous simulation of random distribution Picabias splatter is conspicuously out of control At the same time as La Sainte Vierges appearance Picabia could evoke Mallannean sensibility with pious insincerity in his response to H-R Lenonnands accusation (Comoedia March 1920) that Dada was pathological Nous tendons vers Ie Blanc considere comme une entite psychique ou pour concretiser cette tendance grace aux rapports immuables de la couleur et de la musique nous tendoms vers Ie la pur = 435 vibrations Picabia of course would be equally capable of evoking newspaper advertisements for the annual white sales at Paris department stores overlaying this commercial whiteness onto the Mallannean Blanc (figure 2)

IU DCB -

Maison A BOUCICAUT

PARIS

JI((I 3 FEJ IllER 11 jour BllilJOlltB

Figure 2 Advenisemcllt ror whilc sale 31 Au ampn MarriIJ in I~ F(~TO I February [920

~In imm el ial I) rAJ Sill lngnctI11 wi Il l llli-CaliignlphlC poem a ntgal ill~ homagr to Guillaume Apoliinaircs LiLlli~nts tspcri311y lhosc lnvoh illg a mctonymic rli rtatiull vili womat I absorbed into lhe I)(xlv or text PiealJ ia lonckn_Ci- lhi~ to wom11I a intrauault blol Pi nbia ii not ilill1pl~

l u ~ukjJ IK hi old frilaquond in CSlilfclt iun~ of repll~tnliuinl1 I)) Inri anrl image LIlt visuaJ insemination of writun langlla~c He j a iso pushi ng lite p(llrnti ~11

or riling W pic-tun rorth its COlllt nt to a logical i)uta nmdllsiull PiCabia illkhlul a I t1l ibTam do lot drnb itgt 11jcll lUll (111) imdurihly iNlt oridrblo(kinglhc rcpresenJaunnu rallibm 1111 amlin1lt i r(presenl indcfillitdy hC Caulc as an amOlvhous sharK il (an be read into II rrprcscnb II lh( thin~ Ihm could Ix sllbUlulCd fiJr Ih i nla~ or he middotirgi ll

(Joe pruto-Dadbullbull ancrstor uf PicaLia virgil hlol i ~ In h4- foun d in I Glrtnnn

in IlI1 Ril)s UrcllcIhcl1 RidgifJ (avok fic ilin I)ninlillg nr inkblol b Kumofr T II wa a d wcS) hil nf~xual hUII1)Ur aimtd a t post middotArmory - ho- abslraniull indurJin~ Picabias unlod~ld wilhin a I~lrg(f par-nd) of lfrcd SliegliLL 291 hen PirbiR lonk I the mlllif ag-tiJl il a Illorr au11 I (i LII Saw I 111 b-Inn~ In Ihe Illor indelill lradiuo of hlaspl my ilnd il L it rfal il1 khlnt l nol l (nick approxlmalinll of Due

10 have Ihe impact uf a p l ofallOltiulI tlu- biOI nlUit all nn auctioned ftpnirllll i nn~ (f lu Olc~Slmiddott1 illri ll ill sonlt OI y r nli~ ii Ull(lJi lO an

IIndnIlI1tiin) 01 lilt laiJllilll( it ni dr (rll7I 11IS parnciic blclillllllarl l fi~lr( If Pkahia rrfcTs 10 the ~L01tuS 0 1 rdigiPlls un rapllaJizing- on lhc delunct ~Lumpl ion ofan aura dClivcd rroJU foI ItTt iC rC li ~ous a)uCs utd lptt-tel1tl It is lISO impon anllo iwtlILn Shiftlt JitTgt iii tI l consulialiun ot concern) or Iicabia lnd hi ((ILlClgtl~ at lhl linlt middotI~(iII) art allt w ligion In Lit Salllr

f rTKi Pitahia l~ not jU~1 adapling lhii Dadl d1 hi all n a or mutually cliscrcdiung arl nel religion He IS 01 0 inl( Ih imp licalion or lItl dc ouollal imagc to prop1 J lie modd for Iht ork oran and its exhibili() lI I IOLI I iJlg Ic~ tha n ~ n rorm or(unlumiddott Iltlwcmiddot(~n vi(~ rr aJ1 i~1 and vi~utl ork (wcightcd h(av i l~ J1 rwor tIl 1 1 [C f PiCabia wanted at an t~ (on nlonw L

10 -Jaillfr Ilttll appeared Uti pa~f lllrcf or 1) a ~~ pCllcltnt ur ripostr tu brcci nuritAmp~ J fln iLla illl n mnllslaciw UlfHJ(b Oil pa~ImiddotI)lI( r lL1 SUtllft

111 hy 11ll cumpal1 sill knplt in 31 (1JI1HJlI and liol1ilaquo Inl Iprmlf (lrnmlfr iii CaM imo di~rcpUlC Bul there is more tn 111 Sllwlt i l(rw than simple i(xual slunder Picabi t playil1~ with Dur harllp s prusaec ur irgin [U brid( had lO)oT 1 with tht ir~1I plgr )r Ltnmiddotas 1Stil( nbjCCI nf l -cuLLI drft-nilizini pmee rially in hi cIJlIdnfl1 for f n Iilll n Hln lin or 19 La Smilie l ingt i a COJ1(knsalio n 01 aU L1w pxycho-$(xlial machine portrai~ the oil staill len allcr the mechanic i hnislwd

Pi ra bia liflcd ehe phmse and i[ka of Ia fillt- n ltlI mlre liOtn Ihe [rtil larOlllrr pink pag Iii Ltclll and r reil1 pit rn II 1ld I ulk 0 illlo ae 1Il1 Ihal the Lale lag rrulll (kids IrlalllorlilOel prolcm inc mlIr crraUllll is explained l illle as mlarUn~ nOI only lilal ltOOlclhing ha nlt1l1lulhn

hut also Ihul somelhw J il a n(1 uwdd he noLioH nfhamiddoting no mOlhtr Ulk(~ us ohviouly lU Iicabiu IIJtIll-made machine Bm ~~ reltd pan or Ihe 1Uou r definilion h1ling no model raises the likelihood lhal licltLbia was heinH irOllie aboul mimetic drt ror most certainly his Ill3Chin( rljcl have mockk -n trV wrl( cop ied elir l lly rrom Ie hnir1 illuSlmtiOIb d Ih ~ chr~[ o rpltgia llt 1middot dld gain1 Picahi en hi mrcllanical tirawing had uch idenlifiab le models Picabi ba~s his machines on mod~ls lid litc

iH) EL I 1 DI-TH LEG( E

l ~ ul Mm Mhll IJ II_Ii rtLIIwu

Ylr~ U~IIJ pi n ( (Inl) l)Owu to apllI11 I~II 1111 fl) HH~ IlkJf~ lIatPr (annl ur r rl pullanunmiddot allli hUmu

ti I h~illl(Intilll ilL t ()Id~middot~ IJtrlflll

p n1 II 11 liLl C CIt Illi PPf mil

Illln 01l1iIO 1t11I bull J1C111 lllirl tf fI

11 Hf 1Il(1kllllo [II U D1ukbirtl pulllWlt-d

in Otlnh~1 lIj In ()p llJI Jhnflgt(JrrJIIfr 00 Iff Ult tlll nil_ 01~

IIhlrd h J~l -rf1111 Ull ~1I11 lwei

heroll pm lht Xc Y Ilrk nn In frr1luInlcd 11 l1udllIl1P I1ml [ic4hi1 II hn Ilfl4hill~ 1lTtT11o1 rJl ll h Pi IYImiddotr bl1f k 11It11 hol ~I~I~ 1111 tl hhlL hmr- Ifl

bull I1l1lnlIn il tit InII1411I -1lM thll II rl Lllln~ IIUlto hilf mrfltr i illill

tJf trImiddot nt Itl ~ middot rh rmiddot l1)(middot Ill ~hlldl I Il dLL~n~ ur tho htltUludl CrIJA(d n III mel lIu 1lw 1n(J(lfll middotiI bull ut 1

ill II K ~hadO1 n illdN-iphrn If UUSImiddot u1i litmiddot rrHJf1II110 Ilwt dm lQ1n Ihlll~

t1 lH [T1I1 I IIIIrJ)tWt u~ hl~

7 11ILIJilunr III twk( bull r l ~ iIl JIJ )t(

1 uIIIIIlJIMII W~middot lite H~1jftd (fJJ

1II(h 1111~J JllliJUlh he Lint 1111 WImiddot d lI1qti1h

H It j gt1 fIlhl Iirlm fVo dmR nr

IhltiuUIlP IJlarJlltlJA AIpuro III ~yl

UNC un 11 litllli IU~ JMH Iud lt1

I)ru(ulr illl1T I in Immtnwlt hll

jjrJlJf lit IOn h1I1 torr 1h( HJlllllf 01 dl middotuutJvmiddot P1n II Jwtl h(11 JWIlnuni In lUll ltIMMI lmd( lit Ihmiddot lint rm 01111 lullIltlIUnl tI J iul~n 1Jti Orlidr IltIV k rutltht III 11rnll- I n~IIfJC1~lm

fJnrr(J1i afoL p bullbullbit III npim hImiddot 100 hluf rrflT In lht prinflplr t [ 1 hIlI ibulllboon to us ~~h r It hrlu 1111 1dtlillilJli JI middotJJ(dtM m~r Lt Ilrlr dtu Ih~ imc=rthmlllbilil 1 UXI( lind Jo(im is m ltlHrh mrl~I)1q( u Ih( WlUi

l ILTOlill o( hI l1lamil~ nl (linP HJtI

Irn 1 jLI ~ Hmln h J-=lh1 ml ~ hr p

Q tiui lJlI~l llo1r ~I r rw ol 1(1)gt- )J 1)1) t l -)

III 11 lrlPn 1 )1 IUI1I1 flllll 1

I Ii lurid nI(middotltIph~(uI q p(ill Itllili 11 mJ1r 1- ulJltn V lnndllll

l(fTl bull Ill IN 11

denies Iht modI UOIl) with the mother 1u nUn1to Ihe ir~i ll Mary hsdf might be proped) rol1ltidrnd ro lle nee am men in 0 fcr the C lIltol ir (IonnIH orhtr Il tllnaultf C onn plil)tl TntUlllhal)Wf ((ual connptiun and

hirth hy iI llalUril1 mothe-I JS glos-ed uver1n ~l nrf tpdy as ~I al) j POSilld as IIw modd ror aU om(n sh i herselfit hou model Pi(lhia La StllIllt

I middoti~f far from lx-jug ithollt a mudd i a (lra[inu~ ftp proprillion or ( Ihlishld iconugraphil nlodd of Ihe i rJ~ II

22 [

I

At Erst g-lancc La Sain6~ Jingtcynically repres(middot nl s t l l(~ Vin~lll by hcr dchnin t attribute - th t tltJ uivalent o f the i n~trumrnUi u r IlLLlnyrs to rturc o r d ismemberrd body p ilrt held a ll a tray - CXr[middotptlhH (( H Pi caLia lhi auri bme is p r(c i ~w l y Ihe ~ Itill lha t according lo a ll traditinnal prayers and hymns to her sh tmiddot lad ts Seign e ur il ny a pru de -souillufc ni AuroJl loci e n vo tn M(~ft tli Pi cabias ink stain doc~ itann ro r the blood of d fi kmf n t 1 But it llso stands for bodily secrc tion ~ ~lhogCthC r and rhese wit b two nOl ahlt c - ecpLio ns al not al ln-vc-d to the Virgin

The Virbrin is tm diti onall) associated with liqll id s~ nlH)UI ~lJ l d cents ~l

vocabulal)middot now app ropria(nl to shampoo and ltkpprop liauly feminine hygiene product in which lh ert is a simibr d ispl a cmcn t o r un LLciptabl bodily sccrc finn s illlo aromJl iC substitutes Thi s vocahulary originates in lhr Song ofSQnb~ your loe is belle lhilIl winc your alloi nti llg lib arc fragranl your n 1 me i~ oil poured ou t The V irgi n ma be cinnarrwtl roc oin lme nt that tJkco poison out oC venom de w honey pt rrumc ] So lica hia Vin~ill -as-ink is ajoke lt) 11 h r othe r ramiliar liqu ids he i a bioi to be binned (frlm) that i) to Iw d ried rather lhan the hllrn irl rCflple lld~lntc aurnrc nuec p luvlcu e who might be cn lreated to lai ssc [rmiddotJlOmber la I WI le du cie l

or hulllcctc[rJ dOllremcn t Ie cocur adde lot to me nt ion u10thcr source of li qui d the blood 01 ti l( V irgin o r C hI bleedi ng IlIa rl a nd the comlll ollpilCt or br ing wai IHd or watered li ke a pl ant in lhu pre- ious blood Religious images tha t s(Clt l l blood lr-a( heal ing Ili a rc a widD p rcaci miracle )nd Pirahia hl S his --ay with t he imagebullbullh well t ~ tht

iru ll o~Japh~r

In C atholic iconography ~hc Vi rhr1 u Iv ru allOl cd on lo ltHT t middotp t~lblc

secretion milk a nd t(arlgt wh ilC a nd culou llcss I lopkin ha~ arg ued tha I in UJ Smnlr Vin~e ink sta nd s lo r Ihe bloudsmin of defioral ion [I shuld be added th at scxuaUy shed lJlvolt a lso stands lor tJ1C various iroul rxcn tilJIIs vr m nstrua tio n and ch ilrlb inhr tbi d l in lurn stand lar horiih turruplion a nd morta lity in the Augustmiddotinia n tra dition h Ch ildbirth ir not a com parably phobic vision may hac hcr n Oil Picabins mind at the llmt of his Lxccw iun or La Srll lf Vihgt as his wif G-Iuriclk Bllrffl Hud his Jll istnss GrTJll ili liC

En rl ing had recently hmiddotcn hirLh tn h i SUI1 $ V ice nte a nd Lnrr-llZ() i ll

Scptt JlIiJer 1919 and Janu a l) 192() lspcn ivdy IT ht fc are ftcr all lO survivi ng- vtl~ions o La SamJc VilTge

I1illia111 Camfield proposes tha I Pictiia ge lure te n lion i ha~ i c)I ly

maslUrbatorymiddot i If ZO it -middotoll ld be a blasphtmous co rrupt ion or til e fcnili li llg Annun ciation ecne This wa or looking a t lh in g drt~ lhl Vilmiddotvcr inlw llie ptTVaSImiddotc realm of fkp h rasi~ the wriu cn descri p tion or a i uU representa tion often a -middoturk (I f art a it h )s recently )((n propos(d by W J T ~lilChel l Milhell mc Aalbce S ICCI1S poem AneedI or )11 J m ill u) tra tion ot the verbill roujllring up or dIe fem 1e irn )gc T hi N II(

argues has darker overl o ncs of pornngrapltic -riring allel ma~lurb ~lIr) r~

fanlasy nf1 rvrilchd l describes S tevens ba rren jar lS a wom b 0 1 a more aClin nega tion fruitfull y multipl ying irs own stcrili t throughout its d Ol11 in io ns +I

The jar once presumably a comajn cr fo r prf ~C f ed Jood i an tpt mf taphor for sI crile fruitlul lLCSS It surdy also (OnjU tTS up the COll1ln lH lphl(tmiddot o f lhe Vi rgi n MaJY as jJure middotcssd or the Lord a nd Mil chcll hrnd wa) 01 loo ki n~ is equally applicaiJie to Pica bd IJI SaiI IIrrll

ll2 ELI Z ABE rl l I 10 u n

) I s fpitcm JedKallfltl 11 fnhltlli d Ilnu IA ~ lim IHll (lIt1I87$ 2 ll -p li n~ (-LL~41(lllrm Oulbullbull OTtD

If4Ufm

lI T tflh LrUtumiddot Iwmn Iu Ihl middotirgjIL tit nnn JA aurt~ lin)y I W I ~

I~ l1~d T II III

ll ( 11 1111111( R~nhJum-U(lndai

middotl1rJr rtl prf nr Fnm 0 JI IJlri ~Iuiff ( IIilri- dc I ~ (tL 1Qft l P 116

III JrTltI IltUIl 61 iltl Ju St pp)tJ middotb 11 nfc(iw( 10 Albcnu~ l 1~lD

dr-JI bullbull Purl lind ~I tlgtJMlintmiddot ~tltr (In hls

I rlur rrom W illiam CUl lfilld 10

Llitbc1h l rwgl middot I I~middot II)C) I

la ~l iKlJrU ~(fJ(lr 7~middot ll Ittlt

III lind pp 11l7 lJIl

l

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

n Jl h3

In In

II Gtu~ RUKI1101IImiddotI)t5i1ll(llto

~~tJ~ J~mlf Jrtir(l1 l+Ull l IkIIlfl

J IiJtJ JIam in Imiddot II

8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

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I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

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U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

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0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

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d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

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twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

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Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

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1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

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r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

L

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pn I -I

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I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

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lUll 1111111

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fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 3: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

~In imm el ial I) rAJ Sill lngnctI11 wi Il l llli-CaliignlphlC poem a ntgal ill~ homagr to Guillaume Apoliinaircs LiLlli~nts tspcri311y lhosc lnvoh illg a mctonymic rli rtatiull vili womat I absorbed into lhe I)(xlv or text PiealJ ia lonckn_Ci- lhi~ to wom11I a intrauault blol Pi nbia ii not ilill1pl~

l u ~ukjJ IK hi old frilaquond in CSlilfclt iun~ of repll~tnliuinl1 I)) Inri anrl image LIlt visuaJ insemination of writun langlla~c He j a iso pushi ng lite p(llrnti ~11

or riling W pic-tun rorth its COlllt nt to a logical i)uta nmdllsiull PiCabia illkhlul a I t1l ibTam do lot drnb itgt 11jcll lUll (111) imdurihly iNlt oridrblo(kinglhc rcpresenJaunnu rallibm 1111 amlin1lt i r(presenl indcfillitdy hC Caulc as an amOlvhous sharK il (an be read into II rrprcscnb II lh( thin~ Ihm could Ix sllbUlulCd fiJr Ih i nla~ or he middotirgi ll

(Joe pruto-Dadbullbull ancrstor uf PicaLia virgil hlol i ~ In h4- foun d in I Glrtnnn

in IlI1 Ril)s UrcllcIhcl1 RidgifJ (avok fic ilin I)ninlillg nr inkblol b Kumofr T II wa a d wcS) hil nf~xual hUII1)Ur aimtd a t post middotArmory - ho- abslraniull indurJin~ Picabias unlod~ld wilhin a I~lrg(f par-nd) of lfrcd SliegliLL 291 hen PirbiR lonk I the mlllif ag-tiJl il a Illorr au11 I (i LII Saw I 111 b-Inn~ In Ihe Illor indelill lradiuo of hlaspl my ilnd il L it rfal il1 khlnt l nol l (nick approxlmalinll of Due

10 have Ihe impact uf a p l ofallOltiulI tlu- biOI nlUit all nn auctioned ftpnirllll i nn~ (f lu Olc~Slmiddott1 illri ll ill sonlt OI y r nli~ ii Ull(lJi lO an

IIndnIlI1tiin) 01 lilt laiJllilll( it ni dr (rll7I 11IS parnciic blclillllllarl l fi~lr( If Pkahia rrfcTs 10 the ~L01tuS 0 1 rdigiPlls un rapllaJizing- on lhc delunct ~Lumpl ion ofan aura dClivcd rroJU foI ItTt iC rC li ~ous a)uCs utd lptt-tel1tl It is lISO impon anllo iwtlILn Shiftlt JitTgt iii tI l consulialiun ot concern) or Iicabia lnd hi ((ILlClgtl~ at lhl linlt middotI~(iII) art allt w ligion In Lit Salllr

f rTKi Pitahia l~ not jU~1 adapling lhii Dadl d1 hi all n a or mutually cliscrcdiung arl nel religion He IS 01 0 inl( Ih imp licalion or lItl dc ouollal imagc to prop1 J lie modd for Iht ork oran and its exhibili() lI I IOLI I iJlg Ic~ tha n ~ n rorm or(unlumiddott Iltlwcmiddot(~n vi(~ rr aJ1 i~1 and vi~utl ork (wcightcd h(av i l~ J1 rwor tIl 1 1 [C f PiCabia wanted at an t~ (on nlonw L

10 -Jaillfr Ilttll appeared Uti pa~f lllrcf or 1) a ~~ pCllcltnt ur ripostr tu brcci nuritAmp~ J fln iLla illl n mnllslaciw UlfHJ(b Oil pa~ImiddotI)lI( r lL1 SUtllft

111 hy 11ll cumpal1 sill knplt in 31 (1JI1HJlI and liol1ilaquo Inl Iprmlf (lrnmlfr iii CaM imo di~rcpUlC Bul there is more tn 111 Sllwlt i l(rw than simple i(xual slunder Picabi t playil1~ with Dur harllp s prusaec ur irgin [U brid( had lO)oT 1 with tht ir~1I plgr )r Ltnmiddotas 1Stil( nbjCCI nf l -cuLLI drft-nilizini pmee rially in hi cIJlIdnfl1 for f n Iilll n Hln lin or 19 La Smilie l ingt i a COJ1(knsalio n 01 aU L1w pxycho-$(xlial machine portrai~ the oil staill len allcr the mechanic i hnislwd

Pi ra bia liflcd ehe phmse and i[ka of Ia fillt- n ltlI mlre liOtn Ihe [rtil larOlllrr pink pag Iii Ltclll and r reil1 pit rn II 1ld I ulk 0 illlo ae 1Il1 Ihal the Lale lag rrulll (kids IrlalllorlilOel prolcm inc mlIr crraUllll is explained l illle as mlarUn~ nOI only lilal ltOOlclhing ha nlt1l1lulhn

hut also Ihul somelhw J il a n(1 uwdd he noLioH nfhamiddoting no mOlhtr Ulk(~ us ohviouly lU Iicabiu IIJtIll-made machine Bm ~~ reltd pan or Ihe 1Uou r definilion h1ling no model raises the likelihood lhal licltLbia was heinH irOllie aboul mimetic drt ror most certainly his Ill3Chin( rljcl have mockk -n trV wrl( cop ied elir l lly rrom Ie hnir1 illuSlmtiOIb d Ih ~ chr~[ o rpltgia llt 1middot dld gain1 Picahi en hi mrcllanical tirawing had uch idenlifiab le models Picabi ba~s his machines on mod~ls lid litc

iH) EL I 1 DI-TH LEG( E

l ~ ul Mm Mhll IJ II_Ii rtLIIwu

Ylr~ U~IIJ pi n ( (Inl) l)Owu to apllI11 I~II 1111 fl) HH~ IlkJf~ lIatPr (annl ur r rl pullanunmiddot allli hUmu

ti I h~illl(Intilll ilL t ()Id~middot~ IJtrlflll

p n1 II 11 liLl C CIt Illi PPf mil

Illln 01l1iIO 1t11I bull J1C111 lllirl tf fI

11 Hf 1Il(1kllllo [II U D1ukbirtl pulllWlt-d

in Otlnh~1 lIj In ()p llJI Jhnflgt(JrrJIIfr 00 Iff Ult tlll nil_ 01~

IIhlrd h J~l -rf1111 Ull ~1I11 lwei

heroll pm lht Xc Y Ilrk nn In frr1luInlcd 11 l1udllIl1P I1ml [ic4hi1 II hn Ilfl4hill~ 1lTtT11o1 rJl ll h Pi IYImiddotr bl1f k 11It11 hol ~I~I~ 1111 tl hhlL hmr- Ifl

bull I1l1lnlIn il tit InII1411I -1lM thll II rl Lllln~ IIUlto hilf mrfltr i illill

tJf trImiddot nt Itl ~ middot rh rmiddot l1)(middot Ill ~hlldl I Il dLL~n~ ur tho htltUludl CrIJA(d n III mel lIu 1lw 1n(J(lfll middotiI bull ut 1

ill II K ~hadO1 n illdN-iphrn If UUSImiddot u1i litmiddot rrHJf1II110 Ilwt dm lQ1n Ihlll~

t1 lH [T1I1 I IIIIrJ)tWt u~ hl~

7 11ILIJilunr III twk( bull r l ~ iIl JIJ )t(

1 uIIIIIlJIMII W~middot lite H~1jftd (fJJ

1II(h 1111~J JllliJUlh he Lint 1111 WImiddot d lI1qti1h

H It j gt1 fIlhl Iirlm fVo dmR nr

IhltiuUIlP IJlarJlltlJA AIpuro III ~yl

UNC un 11 litllli IU~ JMH Iud lt1

I)ru(ulr illl1T I in Immtnwlt hll

jjrJlJf lit IOn h1I1 torr 1h( HJlllllf 01 dl middotuutJvmiddot P1n II Jwtl h(11 JWIlnuni In lUll ltIMMI lmd( lit Ihmiddot lint rm 01111 lullIltlIUnl tI J iul~n 1Jti Orlidr IltIV k rutltht III 11rnll- I n~IIfJC1~lm

fJnrr(J1i afoL p bullbullbit III npim hImiddot 100 hluf rrflT In lht prinflplr t [ 1 hIlI ibulllboon to us ~~h r It hrlu 1111 1dtlillilJli JI middotJJ(dtM m~r Lt Ilrlr dtu Ih~ imc=rthmlllbilil 1 UXI( lind Jo(im is m ltlHrh mrl~I)1q( u Ih( WlUi

l ILTOlill o( hI l1lamil~ nl (linP HJtI

Irn 1 jLI ~ Hmln h J-=lh1 ml ~ hr p

Q tiui lJlI~l llo1r ~I r rw ol 1(1)gt- )J 1)1) t l -)

III 11 lrlPn 1 )1 IUI1I1 flllll 1

I Ii lurid nI(middotltIph~(uI q p(ill Itllili 11 mJ1r 1- ulJltn V lnndllll

l(fTl bull Ill IN 11

denies Iht modI UOIl) with the mother 1u nUn1to Ihe ir~i ll Mary hsdf might be proped) rol1ltidrnd ro lle nee am men in 0 fcr the C lIltol ir (IonnIH orhtr Il tllnaultf C onn plil)tl TntUlllhal)Wf ((ual connptiun and

hirth hy iI llalUril1 mothe-I JS glos-ed uver1n ~l nrf tpdy as ~I al) j POSilld as IIw modd ror aU om(n sh i herselfit hou model Pi(lhia La StllIllt

I middoti~f far from lx-jug ithollt a mudd i a (lra[inu~ ftp proprillion or ( Ihlishld iconugraphil nlodd of Ihe i rJ~ II

22 [

I

At Erst g-lancc La Sain6~ Jingtcynically repres(middot nl s t l l(~ Vin~lll by hcr dchnin t attribute - th t tltJ uivalent o f the i n~trumrnUi u r IlLLlnyrs to rturc o r d ismemberrd body p ilrt held a ll a tray - CXr[middotptlhH (( H Pi caLia lhi auri bme is p r(c i ~w l y Ihe ~ Itill lha t according lo a ll traditinnal prayers and hymns to her sh tmiddot lad ts Seign e ur il ny a pru de -souillufc ni AuroJl loci e n vo tn M(~ft tli Pi cabias ink stain doc~ itann ro r the blood of d fi kmf n t 1 But it llso stands for bodily secrc tion ~ ~lhogCthC r and rhese wit b two nOl ahlt c - ecpLio ns al not al ln-vc-d to the Virgin

The Virbrin is tm diti onall) associated with liqll id s~ nlH)UI ~lJ l d cents ~l

vocabulal)middot now app ropria(nl to shampoo and ltkpprop liauly feminine hygiene product in which lh ert is a simibr d ispl a cmcn t o r un LLciptabl bodily sccrc finn s illlo aromJl iC substitutes Thi s vocahulary originates in lhr Song ofSQnb~ your loe is belle lhilIl winc your alloi nti llg lib arc fragranl your n 1 me i~ oil poured ou t The V irgi n ma be cinnarrwtl roc oin lme nt that tJkco poison out oC venom de w honey pt rrumc ] So lica hia Vin~ill -as-ink is ajoke lt) 11 h r othe r ramiliar liqu ids he i a bioi to be binned (frlm) that i) to Iw d ried rather lhan the hllrn irl rCflple lld~lntc aurnrc nuec p luvlcu e who might be cn lreated to lai ssc [rmiddotJlOmber la I WI le du cie l

or hulllcctc[rJ dOllremcn t Ie cocur adde lot to me nt ion u10thcr source of li qui d the blood 01 ti l( V irgin o r C hI bleedi ng IlIa rl a nd the comlll ollpilCt or br ing wai IHd or watered li ke a pl ant in lhu pre- ious blood Religious images tha t s(Clt l l blood lr-a( heal ing Ili a rc a widD p rcaci miracle )nd Pirahia hl S his --ay with t he imagebullbullh well t ~ tht

iru ll o~Japh~r

In C atholic iconography ~hc Vi rhr1 u Iv ru allOl cd on lo ltHT t middotp t~lblc

secretion milk a nd t(arlgt wh ilC a nd culou llcss I lopkin ha~ arg ued tha I in UJ Smnlr Vin~e ink sta nd s lo r Ihe bloudsmin of defioral ion [I shuld be added th at scxuaUy shed lJlvolt a lso stands lor tJ1C various iroul rxcn tilJIIs vr m nstrua tio n and ch ilrlb inhr tbi d l in lurn stand lar horiih turruplion a nd morta lity in the Augustmiddotinia n tra dition h Ch ildbirth ir not a com parably phobic vision may hac hcr n Oil Picabins mind at the llmt of his Lxccw iun or La Srll lf Vihgt as his wif G-Iuriclk Bllrffl Hud his Jll istnss GrTJll ili liC

En rl ing had recently hmiddotcn hirLh tn h i SUI1 $ V ice nte a nd Lnrr-llZ() i ll

Scptt JlIiJer 1919 and Janu a l) 192() lspcn ivdy IT ht fc are ftcr all lO survivi ng- vtl~ions o La SamJc VilTge

I1illia111 Camfield proposes tha I Pictiia ge lure te n lion i ha~ i c)I ly

maslUrbatorymiddot i If ZO it -middotoll ld be a blasphtmous co rrupt ion or til e fcnili li llg Annun ciation ecne This wa or looking a t lh in g drt~ lhl Vilmiddotvcr inlw llie ptTVaSImiddotc realm of fkp h rasi~ the wriu cn descri p tion or a i uU representa tion often a -middoturk (I f art a it h )s recently )((n propos(d by W J T ~lilChel l Milhell mc Aalbce S ICCI1S poem AneedI or )11 J m ill u) tra tion ot the verbill roujllring up or dIe fem 1e irn )gc T hi N II(

argues has darker overl o ncs of pornngrapltic -riring allel ma~lurb ~lIr) r~

fanlasy nf1 rvrilchd l describes S tevens ba rren jar lS a wom b 0 1 a more aClin nega tion fruitfull y multipl ying irs own stcrili t throughout its d Ol11 in io ns +I

The jar once presumably a comajn cr fo r prf ~C f ed Jood i an tpt mf taphor for sI crile fruitlul lLCSS It surdy also (OnjU tTS up the COll1ln lH lphl(tmiddot o f lhe Vi rgi n MaJY as jJure middotcssd or the Lord a nd Mil chcll hrnd wa) 01 loo ki n~ is equally applicaiJie to Pica bd IJI SaiI IIrrll

ll2 ELI Z ABE rl l I 10 u n

) I s fpitcm JedKallfltl 11 fnhltlli d Ilnu IA ~ lim IHll (lIt1I87$ 2 ll -p li n~ (-LL~41(lllrm Oulbullbull OTtD

If4Ufm

lI T tflh LrUtumiddot Iwmn Iu Ihl middotirgjIL tit nnn JA aurt~ lin)y I W I ~

I~ l1~d T II III

ll ( 11 1111111( R~nhJum-U(lndai

middotl1rJr rtl prf nr Fnm 0 JI IJlri ~Iuiff ( IIilri- dc I ~ (tL 1Qft l P 116

III JrTltI IltUIl 61 iltl Ju St pp)tJ middotb 11 nfc(iw( 10 Albcnu~ l 1~lD

dr-JI bullbull Purl lind ~I tlgtJMlintmiddot ~tltr (In hls

I rlur rrom W illiam CUl lfilld 10

Llitbc1h l rwgl middot I I~middot II)C) I

la ~l iKlJrU ~(fJ(lr 7~middot ll Ittlt

III lind pp 11l7 lJIl

l

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

n Jl h3

In In

II Gtu~ RUKI1101IImiddotI)t5i1ll(llto

~~tJ~ J~mlf Jrtir(l1 l+Ull l IkIIlfl

J IiJtJ JIam in Imiddot II

8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

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jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

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CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

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111)1 2

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IIIP

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U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

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d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

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twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

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d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 4: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

III 11 lrlPn 1 )1 IUI1I1 flllll 1

I Ii lurid nI(middotltIph~(uI q p(ill Itllili 11 mJ1r 1- ulJltn V lnndllll

l(fTl bull Ill IN 11

denies Iht modI UOIl) with the mother 1u nUn1to Ihe ir~i ll Mary hsdf might be proped) rol1ltidrnd ro lle nee am men in 0 fcr the C lIltol ir (IonnIH orhtr Il tllnaultf C onn plil)tl TntUlllhal)Wf ((ual connptiun and

hirth hy iI llalUril1 mothe-I JS glos-ed uver1n ~l nrf tpdy as ~I al) j POSilld as IIw modd ror aU om(n sh i herselfit hou model Pi(lhia La StllIllt

I middoti~f far from lx-jug ithollt a mudd i a (lra[inu~ ftp proprillion or ( Ihlishld iconugraphil nlodd of Ihe i rJ~ II

22 [

I

At Erst g-lancc La Sain6~ Jingtcynically repres(middot nl s t l l(~ Vin~lll by hcr dchnin t attribute - th t tltJ uivalent o f the i n~trumrnUi u r IlLLlnyrs to rturc o r d ismemberrd body p ilrt held a ll a tray - CXr[middotptlhH (( H Pi caLia lhi auri bme is p r(c i ~w l y Ihe ~ Itill lha t according lo a ll traditinnal prayers and hymns to her sh tmiddot lad ts Seign e ur il ny a pru de -souillufc ni AuroJl loci e n vo tn M(~ft tli Pi cabias ink stain doc~ itann ro r the blood of d fi kmf n t 1 But it llso stands for bodily secrc tion ~ ~lhogCthC r and rhese wit b two nOl ahlt c - ecpLio ns al not al ln-vc-d to the Virgin

The Virbrin is tm diti onall) associated with liqll id s~ nlH)UI ~lJ l d cents ~l

vocabulal)middot now app ropria(nl to shampoo and ltkpprop liauly feminine hygiene product in which lh ert is a simibr d ispl a cmcn t o r un LLciptabl bodily sccrc finn s illlo aromJl iC substitutes Thi s vocahulary originates in lhr Song ofSQnb~ your loe is belle lhilIl winc your alloi nti llg lib arc fragranl your n 1 me i~ oil poured ou t The V irgi n ma be cinnarrwtl roc oin lme nt that tJkco poison out oC venom de w honey pt rrumc ] So lica hia Vin~ill -as-ink is ajoke lt) 11 h r othe r ramiliar liqu ids he i a bioi to be binned (frlm) that i) to Iw d ried rather lhan the hllrn irl rCflple lld~lntc aurnrc nuec p luvlcu e who might be cn lreated to lai ssc [rmiddotJlOmber la I WI le du cie l

or hulllcctc[rJ dOllremcn t Ie cocur adde lot to me nt ion u10thcr source of li qui d the blood 01 ti l( V irgin o r C hI bleedi ng IlIa rl a nd the comlll ollpilCt or br ing wai IHd or watered li ke a pl ant in lhu pre- ious blood Religious images tha t s(Clt l l blood lr-a( heal ing Ili a rc a widD p rcaci miracle )nd Pirahia hl S his --ay with t he imagebullbullh well t ~ tht

iru ll o~Japh~r

In C atholic iconography ~hc Vi rhr1 u Iv ru allOl cd on lo ltHT t middotp t~lblc

secretion milk a nd t(arlgt wh ilC a nd culou llcss I lopkin ha~ arg ued tha I in UJ Smnlr Vin~e ink sta nd s lo r Ihe bloudsmin of defioral ion [I shuld be added th at scxuaUy shed lJlvolt a lso stands lor tJ1C various iroul rxcn tilJIIs vr m nstrua tio n and ch ilrlb inhr tbi d l in lurn stand lar horiih turruplion a nd morta lity in the Augustmiddotinia n tra dition h Ch ildbirth ir not a com parably phobic vision may hac hcr n Oil Picabins mind at the llmt of his Lxccw iun or La Srll lf Vihgt as his wif G-Iuriclk Bllrffl Hud his Jll istnss GrTJll ili liC

En rl ing had recently hmiddotcn hirLh tn h i SUI1 $ V ice nte a nd Lnrr-llZ() i ll

Scptt JlIiJer 1919 and Janu a l) 192() lspcn ivdy IT ht fc are ftcr all lO survivi ng- vtl~ions o La SamJc VilTge

I1illia111 Camfield proposes tha I Pictiia ge lure te n lion i ha~ i c)I ly

maslUrbatorymiddot i If ZO it -middotoll ld be a blasphtmous co rrupt ion or til e fcnili li llg Annun ciation ecne This wa or looking a t lh in g drt~ lhl Vilmiddotvcr inlw llie ptTVaSImiddotc realm of fkp h rasi~ the wriu cn descri p tion or a i uU representa tion often a -middoturk (I f art a it h )s recently )((n propos(d by W J T ~lilChel l Milhell mc Aalbce S ICCI1S poem AneedI or )11 J m ill u) tra tion ot the verbill roujllring up or dIe fem 1e irn )gc T hi N II(

argues has darker overl o ncs of pornngrapltic -riring allel ma~lurb ~lIr) r~

fanlasy nf1 rvrilchd l describes S tevens ba rren jar lS a wom b 0 1 a more aClin nega tion fruitfull y multipl ying irs own stcrili t throughout its d Ol11 in io ns +I

The jar once presumably a comajn cr fo r prf ~C f ed Jood i an tpt mf taphor for sI crile fruitlul lLCSS It surdy also (OnjU tTS up the COll1ln lH lphl(tmiddot o f lhe Vi rgi n MaJY as jJure middotcssd or the Lord a nd Mil chcll hrnd wa) 01 loo ki n~ is equally applicaiJie to Pica bd IJI SaiI IIrrll

ll2 ELI Z ABE rl l I 10 u n

) I s fpitcm JedKallfltl 11 fnhltlli d Ilnu IA ~ lim IHll (lIt1I87$ 2 ll -p li n~ (-LL~41(lllrm Oulbullbull OTtD

If4Ufm

lI T tflh LrUtumiddot Iwmn Iu Ihl middotirgjIL tit nnn JA aurt~ lin)y I W I ~

I~ l1~d T II III

ll ( 11 1111111( R~nhJum-U(lndai

middotl1rJr rtl prf nr Fnm 0 JI IJlri ~Iuiff ( IIilri- dc I ~ (tL 1Qft l P 116

III JrTltI IltUIl 61 iltl Ju St pp)tJ middotb 11 nfc(iw( 10 Albcnu~ l 1~lD

dr-JI bullbull Purl lind ~I tlgtJMlintmiddot ~tltr (In hls

I rlur rrom W illiam CUl lfilld 10

Llitbc1h l rwgl middot I I~middot II)C) I

la ~l iKlJrU ~(fJ(lr 7~middot ll Ittlt

III lind pp 11l7 lJIl

l

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

n Jl h3

In In

II Gtu~ RUKI1101IImiddotI)t5i1ll(llto

~~tJ~ J~mlf Jrtir(l1 l+Ull l IkIIlfl

J IiJtJ JIam in Imiddot II

8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

]

I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

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Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

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U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

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0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

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d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

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twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

Inou~ ~

1O -Cn I 01shy

flVinR

WlIlh l~

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middotIl

middotX11II(II1

~ 1111 III

t I W lil

nd1 Ii lh

Rgtlol ll l l1

ric di ll

Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

llI f 111 ~

1l~ l n l ll

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middotl Ile ttlluIYmiddot

1111]11

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

L

~ IWI 1M

nllw middot

111 lUI ~ ( 111 ID

pn I -I

1111 t -I

) Fotlol r

1 )(lt ))1

II I IiI I~ I i Idr

l(o Iw I1middot I mUI r

liI

d1 ( middot1

ri l1 Lil

ji ll PI L h j

lu lIn

I(nrlll

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ill Pilll I I ill dlt- 11

i~l1 1 iio l] ull 1lt

II 1l I 1111 I

11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 5: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

I

At Erst g-lancc La Sain6~ Jingtcynically repres(middot nl s t l l(~ Vin~lll by hcr dchnin t attribute - th t tltJ uivalent o f the i n~trumrnUi u r IlLLlnyrs to rturc o r d ismemberrd body p ilrt held a ll a tray - CXr[middotptlhH (( H Pi caLia lhi auri bme is p r(c i ~w l y Ihe ~ Itill lha t according lo a ll traditinnal prayers and hymns to her sh tmiddot lad ts Seign e ur il ny a pru de -souillufc ni AuroJl loci e n vo tn M(~ft tli Pi cabias ink stain doc~ itann ro r the blood of d fi kmf n t 1 But it llso stands for bodily secrc tion ~ ~lhogCthC r and rhese wit b two nOl ahlt c - ecpLio ns al not al ln-vc-d to the Virgin

The Virbrin is tm diti onall) associated with liqll id s~ nlH)UI ~lJ l d cents ~l

vocabulal)middot now app ropria(nl to shampoo and ltkpprop liauly feminine hygiene product in which lh ert is a simibr d ispl a cmcn t o r un LLciptabl bodily sccrc finn s illlo aromJl iC substitutes Thi s vocahulary originates in lhr Song ofSQnb~ your loe is belle lhilIl winc your alloi nti llg lib arc fragranl your n 1 me i~ oil poured ou t The V irgi n ma be cinnarrwtl roc oin lme nt that tJkco poison out oC venom de w honey pt rrumc ] So lica hia Vin~ill -as-ink is ajoke lt) 11 h r othe r ramiliar liqu ids he i a bioi to be binned (frlm) that i) to Iw d ried rather lhan the hllrn irl rCflple lld~lntc aurnrc nuec p luvlcu e who might be cn lreated to lai ssc [rmiddotJlOmber la I WI le du cie l

or hulllcctc[rJ dOllremcn t Ie cocur adde lot to me nt ion u10thcr source of li qui d the blood 01 ti l( V irgin o r C hI bleedi ng IlIa rl a nd the comlll ollpilCt or br ing wai IHd or watered li ke a pl ant in lhu pre- ious blood Religious images tha t s(Clt l l blood lr-a( heal ing Ili a rc a widD p rcaci miracle )nd Pirahia hl S his --ay with t he imagebullbullh well t ~ tht

iru ll o~Japh~r

In C atholic iconography ~hc Vi rhr1 u Iv ru allOl cd on lo ltHT t middotp t~lblc

secretion milk a nd t(arlgt wh ilC a nd culou llcss I lopkin ha~ arg ued tha I in UJ Smnlr Vin~e ink sta nd s lo r Ihe bloudsmin of defioral ion [I shuld be added th at scxuaUy shed lJlvolt a lso stands lor tJ1C various iroul rxcn tilJIIs vr m nstrua tio n and ch ilrlb inhr tbi d l in lurn stand lar horiih turruplion a nd morta lity in the Augustmiddotinia n tra dition h Ch ildbirth ir not a com parably phobic vision may hac hcr n Oil Picabins mind at the llmt of his Lxccw iun or La Srll lf Vihgt as his wif G-Iuriclk Bllrffl Hud his Jll istnss GrTJll ili liC

En rl ing had recently hmiddotcn hirLh tn h i SUI1 $ V ice nte a nd Lnrr-llZ() i ll

Scptt JlIiJer 1919 and Janu a l) 192() lspcn ivdy IT ht fc are ftcr all lO survivi ng- vtl~ions o La SamJc VilTge

I1illia111 Camfield proposes tha I Pictiia ge lure te n lion i ha~ i c)I ly

maslUrbatorymiddot i If ZO it -middotoll ld be a blasphtmous co rrupt ion or til e fcnili li llg Annun ciation ecne This wa or looking a t lh in g drt~ lhl Vilmiddotvcr inlw llie ptTVaSImiddotc realm of fkp h rasi~ the wriu cn descri p tion or a i uU representa tion often a -middoturk (I f art a it h )s recently )((n propos(d by W J T ~lilChel l Milhell mc Aalbce S ICCI1S poem AneedI or )11 J m ill u) tra tion ot the verbill roujllring up or dIe fem 1e irn )gc T hi N II(

argues has darker overl o ncs of pornngrapltic -riring allel ma~lurb ~lIr) r~

fanlasy nf1 rvrilchd l describes S tevens ba rren jar lS a wom b 0 1 a more aClin nega tion fruitfull y multipl ying irs own stcrili t throughout its d Ol11 in io ns +I

The jar once presumably a comajn cr fo r prf ~C f ed Jood i an tpt mf taphor for sI crile fruitlul lLCSS It surdy also (OnjU tTS up the COll1ln lH lphl(tmiddot o f lhe Vi rgi n MaJY as jJure middotcssd or the Lord a nd Mil chcll hrnd wa) 01 loo ki n~ is equally applicaiJie to Pica bd IJI SaiI IIrrll

ll2 ELI Z ABE rl l I 10 u n

) I s fpitcm JedKallfltl 11 fnhltlli d Ilnu IA ~ lim IHll (lIt1I87$ 2 ll -p li n~ (-LL~41(lllrm Oulbullbull OTtD

If4Ufm

lI T tflh LrUtumiddot Iwmn Iu Ihl middotirgjIL tit nnn JA aurt~ lin)y I W I ~

I~ l1~d T II III

ll ( 11 1111111( R~nhJum-U(lndai

middotl1rJr rtl prf nr Fnm 0 JI IJlri ~Iuiff ( IIilri- dc I ~ (tL 1Qft l P 116

III JrTltI IltUIl 61 iltl Ju St pp)tJ middotb 11 nfc(iw( 10 Albcnu~ l 1~lD

dr-JI bullbull Purl lind ~I tlgtJMlintmiddot ~tltr (In hls

I rlur rrom W illiam CUl lfilld 10

Llitbc1h l rwgl middot I I~middot II)C) I

la ~l iKlJrU ~(fJ(lr 7~middot ll Ittlt

III lind pp 11l7 lJIl

l

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

n Jl h3

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II Gtu~ RUKI1101IImiddotI)t5i1ll(llto

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8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

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I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

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liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

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ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

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1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

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1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

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t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

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t bull f a m

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

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III tI1l t

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fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 6: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

Jt l ltpkiol Qutlioning lJdu

po trIlC P J l hl nuumiddotd liml PllilblS1

lI V11II1I1011 LI brlaquotnj 1101 JUIl a~m~1

11[1(111 h4l1 olJC1untl an

11 tjtu~ R tbnnOllt-D tt8atL1lel lnlk rd J fUI )J1(TIY ~ntl mh poIn- 1~7R

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J IiJtJ JIam in Imiddot II

8

1I4 GfHTtIt1 Rlbtmt)l l1 middot DfWIiiU~middot n1 lh 1

wk Nt 11Imiddotdl IC_lrIl ill I~~I II I lJ

Ii MllJUltJin I l~ Jot) 19 I llmTmbt-r 1910J p 5 in ampnt p I50j lind lk uJ-Chn1 RCtil Ilqur-rt In

FmlJ 11 1 yen1 D1id Frl(tfbrllt buI1 1IMft1 StllrTm rn tlj II~ i tM1IJ rlj NLJXHlTn 111 dull I~J I l rrrdllCfJ I 18 poim~ mil

th Itlllundalil Aulu In ~uim Mhlrh vnuld prtMImlblv hlChHIt

IJIn)WIIII( Ink lilT 1~1Jt)(i 1)(lnl~ i oIlJ 1 normal np(J~ to 1111~ ilJllllhtir ~a-IUI pr~tt NtXlJill a nnmltjr rtIfIrlI~t

10 11)C irrtJ1(( fll I OflLllI

~8 IIMM ftltIUI IIndl t11JI r- f llllln(n Jm (JWJJN Sl middotntm m rjltbron IIllul I 7 Thil JlUiUC~ Is quottd unlv III 1 )1Il111t

(If t~ thdHrl ~liQn (lr bullbullr nlld IrliPMt J IOATtrlhbullbull U oU 1111 pr-Itod nl IJllIiI ~ 1 lilt bull ul)i~ I~ lIul dUenciwl1011tnl wilh III ~ (lid rrirlkl Glc=izr1 LNIUSt ortllf ItjfCtNwl ul l)dor b~ Ihl

tllhll It fO In rdlruary U)ro On Ih IUIlIItIIOl IIf lin iu btJlJfJoi KmiddotitI IIKithr II~ in hidl lin rT tIllt nI~l)n

W-JrrU ITIR II OYon ith rimliulU And rilUllh IlllfffllllZmiddot li11rn~rlirllunlt(im ltW IkI~f fI ls is I~Wmiddot rcltIllll

Del lltrntllt dl td p rof~IIlli ()n V(ft P~ r l (I r the t C1) dO ) ~lr-itltaJ (Ir n ltl ria ~l t III PkahL-l l fl SmilIe J7tTgt nSts a~ It kind ur ~lllcgo icaj personihration or blasphmy ill 1 ider lidd or odd CeIlIS middot La Saintt I middoti~t ncen to he sel 011 giIint he r orhrr l)da rtprrmiddotmiddotntaUOII Pica igt frind tlld dly lt CO rgfS R ibemontmiddot I)(saigllcs rtiling ~tgainst art rCubism 1l 1 u ~i on i5m

rrprtllmiddotlItat iollal Irt) ~tlul lL) l o rrflill t ltli~ion rnqllclllly rcl ics al l Cxuat

n1Cllphnrl FOI example he a JTilit i(aJl propo (~ ~till Ji ie as the definitive Fr( llc h g-tlln pCrhtlpS will a nud 10 Pi cahia nlwf vlmlf jflrlrrul til RJmbmmit POI mit dt Camll Porlmif dt RJlJtIlJ of 1910 I a sl uffed monk tY pantomiming mltlSlll1halion wilh iu tail pulkd hctCt1l i L~ IqS) L amou r lt 1 1 mon r41 rh i ltJu julI r-jUlI ir III I plU Lc~ plSlnt p ublw Cnge vcrs elk a 1 (

unc molk hthi tud( ~Ilik Clr Ic public lui-mtll le n rW l ll pIUSJI T Ilt metaphor of luokill~ 1 lajje SCX is ~ugg-(slivr in (otlllcction i lh

PiCoILhi(1 i Jl Saillkt J uW who a) a fJiulirr i ~ pll)uoIlbly meanl to be the nbj(ci Of llChd mLIlUrLHu01middot lop~ mt pLlhli~ And in more pn(jeJy apposite umh in hi 11 rcad 011 Ihc 7 - Ird ll l ilt 1 1li dOeuvre Da da ma ni rcslaliUII R lb(lnOlll U CssaigllCS ilu jllks othe r l]Tlt-ga rde lTIon- mtnL

st(kin~ oppUllunilic dlialllT iLlI Dadl poliliqll( tt tnaria~( Dada a Ullt g10t( dOl ) lJi~lllgt ~ t a i~ D ~l(ht r 51 diffiriir ~ d L 1tunr 11 iclge cst t-lnlite 11

Or a~in) Ribcl nul1l-Dcss41ignt~ dhttlss(s In ~Uld abstrllllion il hill tlw iWlln( phil dltlmain of Ian I DUlhamps d Picahias rgin and brid- Oil opiI( (nmm( pilUI 1( cit norC II1l lll de Ia l11ilriCmiddot(~ Liens oiri I nmour AInis CI) la (i rCoIlSl lI 1C t lepou ( l 1111 veilllrd nmt ullinc ~i

In r(sponM~ perhaps to Pi c-llbia5 LA Samlf J I~ wd in Ill( unt iiSUC of 3YI Ribcmnnt-Dtssai~llls draws ~a rilr~r into lit( Oie f icc ufhir a~Uh on I n

llnr nws~ uoilt Ie d il entre It icl1nb~s d ullf jUlie fcmlll t Jt Pical ias b ln l irlin is a ( Olllisc black n Mi Lau l in CC (IUi l Ill fJUl pa~ dil l sur lar in lhc DocTmr 1920 141 Ii df Lrllrrt ltI tlr1 Arll Kibcl1111nt- Dmiddotsltugnc aU - art-asmiddotjnstiluti(H l oIl li~Ld-rcljgl(ln by ca1I lng-the Virgin a ~lrLmiddot cgt lwalk(middotr Ihl c ub i ~l~

tn~ middotmiddotJalldtrcd a prit t orla a illl C c r~( CII vadr(Juillc l Picabia Titingj uftJll PCriOrlltiO murk I rt hy (OJIIIX Ir1S01l to imililuuonal

nIiKioll an d rt 1i~on by comparion 10 in li tuLiona] art the a lledr of olrc Dame de Ia p(illturc irnprclrnCmiddotC du souvcnir drs f(JmlCS dtSlint-cs pmlr Lila rt Ii~OI1 ( unsol unl 1(ITJ1rJ1C fa morale du Christ r OYIUfl IC

rgmstr au nlusi( clu lau ICJI

Picahias bfasplt r nlY againtlh Vi~ n i blasphemv gltlinSl lradi tio ns 01middot Ile r rcprcSclltal ion in art Ihe iconodast hales the fonfllsiOil u r the d hlnl Wilh images Pi(~lhi 1 hallmiddots the r on ru) ioll of arl ith imagcs He enacts his art iClJlwdasm h) efe rence lo rtligioll itono I~ im cnoali1lg a n image- of the Vi rgin tha l is aJrracy dt-faced j In dning itl h( draws 011 nn~lin cxpn tilLions nflll l pu ltc r [( idin~ in rdiriolls ima~($lhrrt G lcizf1i and J cnfl ~middot lrl7 lngtr

in Ju CubiwlC had dril 11all anaJog) hr l cen lIle Cffc -Cl Or l succc -rul paint ing 1nd q UiLs i rdiWo lts ilium ill liu u

Q~w Ia lin ulumr ric lit p(mUrf Mli l dr lUHtilCr 11 Ibwr- 110t)~ (11 aons iOJ1 ctm

mu~ cc nt t 110( Iblh 11 l~mKlIl de 1ft foulc CJU e 1~1 Ji nlUrtmiddot dOlt iddrr~~r a la clUlt C tltfl fi ms Sd pmpr( lulKtIl pour imrJUvOIr domintr cll ri ger non pour

drf(omprisc iru~lll--i rcligiom Lrli~l c qui lbi lifnl dl lOme tl)llcc~ion qui riC ~ tmiddotq)liqll( pas fl Be ranml ( nr-Il acrumuk ti mmiddot IOlce ill Icrir llrt dom If r-onnrmC1lL lUull1in( dknlOur~n

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

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I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

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-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

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pn I -I

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I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 7: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

Picahia rejection of such an allalo~y I1C W((1) lUtilUtiOJlS of an and rdigion hao greal dcal ln do ~tll LIl projnt oflh a71nt-Kardc in a Io(-itt

in which alt is rc l11od from olTlinLl1 Iucial practiccs I It- lJlIn[~ GkiZt ami ~lel7in~(middotr dichr- of tilt tnlc-Io-itsrlf work of art a snmll hillg imilablv mysticdlly nmon-d hUI comrnllnirmimiddotc H i hlilipluffinus hin t (ct1ainly rdiJ ( lo he understood lL spult r i- like1 panKiy nf 111( Ukizcsl I(middottzinger implosiT radiance ora rt f hr blm bl (tck and rxplo ivc does th( opp ISi llmiddot of ill uminat ing its surroundings ~ J Im(sty oj an icoll i lura owntaliolll) rejtning til( l ainl of rcl ihriou~ ventmLion Pirdhia in1tl~C IHYS laim to ~l paradoxical PU I tyJII

Rilxmiddotmon l-Urssaign(~l 1~lI1c1r against arl-irn~ IS ~l form (If rrJigiuu (ncr~1I iO ll fOnnlllri it h t vllIlrcally d iseaHcl i(xudl fIHO lllll(T h(I

impiiGHitlJ1s fo r Pilahia La I)oinlr Jitrgt as u rk of lrt optrl lil1Q within u-diLioIl5 of rlp rc-ltntali()n Pkahi1 ~s cnn cious of thr il1tvi tahility of

ladiLions In J bw-Clm1 HlSlnlIIQu- nlleh in Ju l~ I~PO li iJi I ltI that Io ll lS le tli ltUX dl~ hornm(s font partiC rlt I ~I LtI~lI1d( 1~ldilion - ltt u deshyla pC li lt Commt vow ouclrcz il n y l pLIIi d orurr qui tlt r~t pnrtic de la (radition J

tppartntiy h ltH PiaiJ ia rk rid ld to Intlke 0 1 th is acadcmi pr(up l~ In

anlp trawl ion 1 IIMfuJ ilaquo-r M tlinK up Ilaltcms o r (middotXptmiddot(tlli( )n bullbull1ma~elans

bail-aJld-wilCh 10 fool tlw viewer fil ls iii lIarliLinnru 1 anIM~~lrdt

t rtnsgnssinn Bltl Pi(Jbi~ 3u trd w gu fil nh(r Ln set up unstablc tlhT)()iahk (omcnlions lllat iii scHcOlttTacJirtOl) OlltS tlMl Iroukl dtny prtdrI~middot the kalurc~ o r n pC litiO Jt ill1d (OIl1iOlUty lhal ddil1( d 4011 nLioll In d S l1h~nwnt

puhlislwd in Fehrulry j()O in L ~ itjail rflflrrllit Pillbi1 (lllnounnd l hi~

i nh~n lion as ~m inlfftrai pcln or Oada On(c the work ili hnishcd Ite argutd Ihe in stan taneous COI1(w ioll io 101 I Iigllt 1ucomes Ill1intclligi blr and is or no fUIlhc r inlcreSoI rhi palisagf wriHCn atlhc lll ig-111 nr Pi (IIIiltmiddot~ att1ck on Cubi-m and hioo old friend Jhrrt Glrilcs s(cm hi btl IiltiricaJ Omrnfol on ~ki( lIul ~ hILingrrs d(scriptiun in )IJ (ilhilrTtf of the palntl1 as originator

of (omiddot(~nti()n~t r

I I( scanrializcd rcmiddotpclnsl o j L I( lion fratl(Gu( I A D1dtllill1j- 11 1 qllIJW

CarT In(onojL1nl was to r(dutC t il l PiCJ bi lti prnhlt-Ill to one nhmiddota~u pper G~f- t diso(uvr( ~l n s grnnd(~ (lih lin Iii 011 innnde dcnurmc f(ls ielll middot til papifr de luxe O1l 011 il l1prinws an( (oin dCs ~raphiqll(s ani i~rni(killion

(( deo mots ~anc lomhlc cI tIIw Slli ll~ et Imiddoton parle p~lld ~ 1Jl ( I tlmiddotmpl d( la criStmiddot nu plpi ~r5J Picabias La Somlt imiddotrrJt unil1ldl ibrihl~ to ~WI1 it h almn l functions as j manifcsl(I or th is lxcrciif ill ontmiddot~hO l con( lIlinn bull as dl L being a conspicuously r onlt-mpturHlt grstunolOward pnlar I a lwr hnnag(s

PiCabia s illkhlnl rcnd tl nH1rnliomd icuJ1 ogrdpllin nfl ll( - irgil1 irgi ns of consolati rI of -sonolo 01 humili ty (I f Lh l lslcnion (lr the picli of Ill lhrni ly ill)sllrci) b) potenliaJly ~irillnli ll g any shape Ihal lhe vit r might rntcrtai l1 aboll t Ill appf arann of the Virg-in as piuurinl nprc a llt llliol1 ur een a haJlucini-ttinn rI SilOl lid 1 )( noted 111 t il11iUtes ofll1( irtti n ilrc not onl~ paintingt of Ill imafincd ideal beaut U111 1h) n ld) also b(~ rCpnmiddotsellltion~ or hillulinaljons In lhii Illiitlrr of htllHCimlliuns of til Virin her 1t-tl1rldI)

appearances to the purr ill hc t1rt and 10 lhost in Iltrd (IIt nul ithout immc relevann to PiraiJia vie ws of Lh( vinCr As Ilebulous Lint Pirbia ILl aint JIrrgp may bt Ul hallucination If site 13i1lt to t1ppilr il i~ prt~umabl thl comcqu(nc or the cwcr ~ spiri lua1 or moral in capacities

~l l ~r I ZARhTII L l( GE

1 T Mmlwll II1JfIJuI Chiaa1 Itlnt p l tH middotmiddot1 111 ~1llot L1t prr-(Is to

lhlllk Ih~1 lit l1nllllI rw lrn tn lr lOY

t~I )1 pJt~Mfl h LII ~rllI)

r nnll1 llh Ihr rllhfr diJT~111I dnHI

hi imI(1 11 JlUtlT HI II urI liMIl tJlllk ul mnt idIIlw

ll XIIUl lit t hrn-hltll Illr k plllst I 1101 middotxpr1m(r Iw~ (II wmlllJ1 lUi

104 IInllOl~ IIII noLa tru1l lUX 1I10lJi lIlt

IIl1m IIWH rt~ 1111 tn~ llllioliqlli unl

~Icur tit IrldIIl UU) lui -uklllnn cn

111 dr tllllllmiddot (ltlIlTIIUUII UIlfT ruU 111

III g 1frnnVIl illllilii hml(u~ qUI 11

till I IJur IIIIUI lilt-IIIlt flU nufl h Jlill~ltlru un1 ItICU I[hrrl bull rur

-mt1lI1r)1l )l(nlulmiddot t tl Ut ~ltf mnl

miUlllilllhlC rr du Iqtomiddot nl lI middot jlllftf)j(

plu~ Uk r1 IJU IW~I ImtJI1 II

V i l J)tLu~lIr n~ IUmiddotllIlIt(

mI1Ti I Wil l Ilhtlltt 171l711dL l ~middot hfUill

11IJII bull Il l

K

n

thM (

loIt ~

H Uul ~ Ilmlnv I~I~ in rplm Jla llurrbJi1CIaIJ[U PilJUII-1 pQ It R1 hld pnmrljrlllJ~ IIrlntvd 1m

l)IrHT IllilRDzinll ~r in lJuJrJ i j ilnd

u Iii Wi ~ (itooIt 1)Clcm JIl htcrd f bulluk tv It Iiiit urNm~) l1l)lkil1~ tltt

I(~ aJHrimml or Ina colleitlUrmiddot

11m-i llT)mbtIIM U IliullnUlfll7) Iltff II I

11111 Fr nd 11lrl middotllnlliUlthIk )11 Ink ~llfloIhl uHl i olllll

I ~ 11111fI

As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

r

4

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

]

I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

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111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

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U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

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0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

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d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

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twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

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1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

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119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

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middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

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J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

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bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

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Page 8: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

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As il portrai or the Vil~in Pkahia blot whs iii pl1CC ill thf tradition or feprrscl1lllions of the Virgin HIld J Like thrsr popuJu images ~rl~ up a ll CXP(C t~ltinlJ of magical pJopeni(s al1d miraculous events This lwight(lltd exp(lttilln o f tlw rkolional imagt is 0 colaicl Will] the hyperbolic PUlOseS of Dda t) pography I1tllbly d rilkd by T riltLl1l T Iara chlaquoltIl page doit plosn IA Saillr I ia)fwas mudc b montl after TZlra had moed il1O Picabias housd lold Tzara the birth ofa baby all I Paris Da(b all coinciding momentously Pin lbil is prepar ltllo cxploiltlw I ifilllcncd expectations bOlh or the Dada (Ktge as aniculatctl hy l ara md tilt hoi) miradt-vorkinK imagc

It lould h a rgued thill ill the latn lJada painting 10111 (onlltImiddotll1lt of 19~1 figure +) Pi ahia agltlin ppropriatcs lh (gt(blm of rdi~~o objects 1(ll

his own parodic purpo~middot~ commemorating lhl tl1(umCl1l 0 ri ll (ve iUrlC lio n

T hl rcrtnllion or a illglc eye i Ipical 01 ltifolial ca rds lhe fyI of God l fi~r~ c) Howcv( l tht crude painting- alsu rullC liolls a~ a wHivc image

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~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

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lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

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IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

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n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

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d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

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J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

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tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 9: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

bullbull

Ii

~ J m I 1

Ill

III

ll

Ill

m Ii hlllt I IOn

Md

I il

]

I ~4

1

J

jth its various cutnp(1IlnLI Lh- 1eprCt~ l1laLiun of I h( irtiu nd organ tPinloias eye) lhe fi~ rc~ Vdl() middotpra)lmiddotd for his reC0lrl r(prr~nlCd h tlw sirnaIUfCS of thr rricnd who sitcd during his treatmen the inscription ne well-publicized rumuurs thaI COrn (Ilrotilalf night rSfllod(middot 1 Ihe 51)0 dJu (omn f ouJd bear ou l IafilS (shorlillion long nfur lht ioiti~LI impact or uwir mC~lillg Picbullbull lli ( hI) thrlte 0 such umours and [ robabh tan~d hem l apprrria tcd an aura of extraordinary c elllS allt)unrl his inla~c Iii rc-fert ll(c in La gttriIl1 ) lng to cult nligious image It erlain lugimiddot anrl maliciolls charm

2lfi I- II Z B F T I (jUt

-=- --$Oj

CUAgtLE ACTIOI f( ~ i~1n~u r In 410(1 ~Ul Jr-shy II

InllUUnUIII tiL TIfll Lmiddotllc d ~ II~Id(Jlumiddot itt rurr Itt P~loIJ lU)u foumiddot 1

t tlllew1 bullc rU Ill hUUI Ie hwumiddotmiddot I (IIt Jr 11 ~fI~ jI(lrJfN( srtrrt ILlr h~ ~M I(fU rr ATlo 1mft1 II

bullto I

I~J 1 1

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

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111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

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ill Pilll I I ill dlt- 11

i~l1 1 iio l] ull 1lt

II 1l I 1111 I

11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 10: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

S I ~I n jhl Ikbwrmmt 611 IUll I Jr bull~ nJlltllllftttwJ

~ Imiddot-l ~ H I pp 01 bullbull1

I mont IWIl Bdwum Ibm III

II hI r t VUIlII ~Ilth~ 0111 1I1k~U t j)uw (Ir- n l5f 1Ir f J 81

J frlLIt j SUIIHlOfI rtf Ihe irgln lb

rt 111 ILII til j loW (imll

It 1(( til in mms of tilt cuJt III IMt Illu l 1[1(111 tl f Chnruo who IS u

lIP r l 1ro r I ~Tmmiddotrauon lind pIIRmm~gt I) IltlMITtJI 1 11 rl~lYI Il~ irJlttl

b hqc id tD ~) tl II th ~au GIJ I pampa

Ill ljl(h jr1 00111111111 kllnM (lInt tit

IJIIIt Ip~ Illl I III Ir rhmn I W II 1oIWIrI hm I tv Fnd

( 101 ltL I jiJd JoIid-JJfoU 18oi1nn

ryJ 11 11 7 ( Ilit flo- mdiIlJDlIi~ 1nwnilt1 I 11~ polo(1I ur Ilud ifill iIIl

I VIrlI f I hflj~ Iibull ll~ m dIe tl(lI lIIl 1I1 11 1

1119 dl Olhtl I)I-IYQ 11) on lf ll l htd

II~ nI tr-na II1fII~ II lmmOl ((olIIlh

I I ~I Dr HIIJaa1I~ilk1 lu WmiddottJtrul Itr MI1IIIIWnILh Jltn)rJ~ orpanw iULK A

tll 11111lillll II tude frill nt dfOlt h ne I h)C It I i1111ln umfirkt FrNru

I 1I1J l it IJr r1llI I rPnnnU)II

I) r 10

111111 ( II I po dlmrlr In arb

I I t rIl bull J(F

I K t11~lIf11middotl)uO(lrnlY I )jll~ it frrii r 110 11 1m

11 ~tlmiddotl- t1 1~11~T1 i--ttt JIJftJtl

MogtUdtH r IfU flhlJl

In IIH I ~11Il1 I(IIIW trlTmru PIITWII

IIpnnllh tlllr film Iteakd Ilidl Ihr Ih 11 halll rlI dw rut)l )11 11 11

lit II I 1 JtJfJr Uw PoWllt lJ lit( j~n f ~ 1nttllltl f1uYr (if rqn t h fi

1m JUlll jlllHJirTIag- 111 IIllITlr ltl111j(

1oIiUtt11tl amp11 ~1J11lt s b~ hk 11 Ibl 1r rl

III IIII 11fcent1lLd Itnttt I Illdulnl dlluu~h

I 11 IIgJl t pn~hlllima 1lJ p)lr

111 1 111I ~lmif) 1I111lw=tix-middotlmr IA

_Irul No II 1OIlUlrti IlJI lHt il lfJU ulthr ttJjUI1t11~U il l 1)111 aUr Ser tabpound

II l ltm~ lm 1I1I 1w~ I lIilll rl)llil Inhrgf ~t ~ lA Flaquo I r1 lrall ~ J ~1 1 l111I 1 I-pl wi t Ch~ f~If+l p q bull (11fI bull uUr I ~ It tnfl l ltlftm tit a(~mI

I l Ii 1 I qq Ilopbr QJclloonin~

I11 pl1lnK middot [I ~JH ha pIlntrd Ilul Ih

mLLu ~ l-wtlU UJ Sm frClgr lind

tl tllO II JlIKIU lUl lwnwraquo1 ~ WI(k-lilt uf Ill1tl

n Wll l I alit It lirr1 lit ~lll ty H

Ii r N bull H MI WIt 1(fIltltlhKt(1 WI

II r Iqtlln~ fit JuUtrJHtt IgtWJ iJfflJrr II 11)1 rllll 1llonmcc Dado

1111 II 1 11 hu mt11iQncotJ b ~ HJnJnl( In ~d 11 11 blot l

11111 lr I - n Ii j ~ 1X~1)j( lhJU

One cult tradi lion in whic h Picabia s Vi r~ill might he ~ituHl(d is tha t o rt llt black V irgins found a ll fiver Eu rope Mon b lmiddotlTlt11 G uad(loup Chltu l res rh c~c arc associ ated vri lh rem arkaulc p()v cr I slich ~I~ rili~ ing the Jt ld Icstori ng specch to ti l t IHU ll nIH ahon a ll bestowing- fcrtilil y~ ensurinKsa(e childbirth tnd rf surnT ting stilluonl lJabiC 11 The most famous o f these ill France are [ht Illark V i gin of harLrC of whomJori I [uy m alls hed gi V(1I

a long- account in hi s nn d In ralhrdralt middot~ ~ at ura ll I)lack Virgi ns lllId In bc as ()ciatcd ill) ITOWS ~l nd oTrhl w ill the othcr dark-flccd (rn IJ lt malc W OII1111) ~ltl~lllrhol ia wilh whom th tmiddot d tpns~cd ~lI1d n e lIresthcnic Pi nh ia

miglll be expected tu i l3VC an 1ninily ~ Conlrmplillion o rthe Virgin may im plY1 iin1ncial transac tion bCtau ic her

images requi re orkrin~s and gif lS fr ()111 gratd~ 1I cnulcTs cU fcd of ill ness ~lI1 d lt n T he VL IlC(ttU 1101) im age might ()p(ci ~l1 l y Ix crlll ~ l rued by Picahia as pan ofn co mTIen e A l l = D i u = onl1 ( rie el IIl ttca n tilisme I T hiN ronlmcrc~

alsu ullpiles cheap l1ldssmiddot prodllcerl iOoltvc l1 ir r-~p rnducLi o ns or the image As Pi abia cynically obscryltd in l middotIilur EwwqJI (Janu a ry 1 9J ()) ~ 1 1ra ll de Lourdes PCUl depanll tr urw flUl 0Y

Tht lourdt S SUlIvl nir or eligi lJu images in general a n lTIltJri C by Picahia to sland fnr (he ITI llhiply reprnrillcCd wOJk 01 an T hC nl l1 ltiplr i implicit in lht pos lca ld lolUl i 0[ Dueham]gt IH()OQ to whi It Picabias La Saillllt l iW is ~I pe ndan t one frulll the i hriJl(~ of the Luuln~ one fro m [o llrck~ Pica bia

compclilivcJy had rcpror[lCl ion r 1J1 SOliIt fo- hnded o li LII Ihr Dada L cning J I the raison (c lOCllvTt p rellll illb ly [0 ma ke this poi nt By hring disuibulCd this wy Pi b i La S([illie I it lakes its pl ace among I h( chea p phowmcrhanicall prodlld u nolional imagegt o f Ihr Vir~n U 1I(ll1) lravcsLi rd or p rC t t ifi ld Fra Al lgeiico Bottic( iJi Of B OIlgltfT tI U image) ill lacy horders (f1~l rc 6) 11 Pirabia $ illk ~pa ltc r~) iJl this contexl h(gi n tt) lcu1k like th e lao dmt is pa n of [-u p llia r ritotiu llaJ i rna~cs or the Virgi n fi rtllC 7) pa rodied dsltwher by - fax Ernsl in 11101 r 1 (Iuud dll~11S II alAill1( (fi lllre 11 ) [ he V irgi n is perhaps Ihe o nly 1lt-111 1 figun ho could cornpetmiddot wih the iOIllJ Lisa as rn o I reproduced wo m all in ltrn culture Pici1bizl is pby ill with th e ambiguities of mass rcprndw lio ll o f il naRes but ar~urncnts

about the ~latu of the au lI of the origina l Vt TSII~ th c nJJroduc tiull a r hcdn il ld hy th t rd (-rcnc~ to pra ) rr carrb llw poi nt ora kitSch rdi~iou ~ imctgc

is n t lhH it ~ au ra is d imi nished hy mass rcpr(lcl Ur liu ll (as in sa) J )1olm Lisa) but tha l its power and a ura - every (opy a rc cxltlided h

lil twill r ingf like Juan) of the fi lle n T a ns mi re marhiJIC dra ings is ~ pnrt- lit equ iva len t It ilaquo tt mpl ing to Sl~ the ink blot -L~ a deco nstruction of Ih( IHn lnd ink portra its that Piul hia rn ~lrI(middot in 1920 alld 1921 o f his rricnrls a lld Darla (()I1cagucs including BICL0 11 1 f ln ra Dcrrnimiddotc Eluard and Coclcau fi blre 9 vVh cl1 lzara arritd in Pari ) LO live with PiGti J anti Gcrrna ine Cverti ng in J anuary 1920 Imiddot remi nded E -ding oljea n Arl s Dada Tphics black a nd whi llt) he ooktd like Ule fJOdCULS of his rricnd rp 1J In j ~lct ) La SnlIl( VitTK lend i cl f [0 beillg r ad as a silhoue tle portrail just as the notoriOlilt NiuiJ MatilJ ~l drav ing m ad e dth uarm clock parh di pped in illk (and rlon e to imprc)s T zar) is a ilhout tte pnrr ri l of il ) if (figHJC IO jB

Fu rtlwn ru)[( Ui Lh ( Rettl l latin indi c(l lcs siJhnuct[ tcchlliqu C VilS the

oppo sitt ufartis tic tcd Jlliquc 1t relied on a sirnplc and cLi rccl cornsIH lI1d t II CC

betVlc t ll object and image a ) th t= ~i tlerlj proj ected iihadow L o u tlint rI dnd then fi llt middotd in with hlack ~ilccha ni ca l shaLiov pa intingl il ppar1lll ~ tmiddotS en middot d l

j

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

rll rln tI wa ll I llr ( t rfilUt1fI ~ I filhuucm ill d

~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

I~ loHui ll1C tlr 0 IlJII (Jflj~U

( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

OUdlU~If (1111 rhbull 1111 l)~~

~Il ad I z n E T H I (~t 1

11gt1

I

hi It~

d bull loud

Iw (1(

p unh Slhrr him tV (p l Jlu Itl Ilil 1 0111 (itIw Illfti tIlr Jmiddotinl r~ UrlJ 11

rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

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1O -Cn I 01shy

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~ 1111 III

t I W lil

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ric di ll

Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

llI f 111 ~

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middotl Ile ttlluIYmiddot

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

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t bull f a m

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t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

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lUll 1111111

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fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 11: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

i t ll ir or (filtling- hudl~lCr- and Elirs Tht Ji lhollClh ll1llCUOIL ~lS an early machill C-LSSislCd rcadymadc nnd would hwt rU I PiciLbiL the allure of no n-~lrt procrssJs SilhuuCl lt Iun l d in popular iIIuIllilliun Ihr l)(casionall) (TOP up J l ponraiu uf vTi t(~ anrl t(tors ill Pitabi~l o s prerLrn d (Onuor tainIcn t j011mal (AmuNdia

rhe lC is wil in 111 ampill IW considered 1-lt a silhouette _as - s ilhouclt~ 10 si(l1iflcs itll1hrng cheap or Lon 111011 n PicahiH Iil Saillit f irrgt~ dbu-i l mlt d as m ll lLi pk 01 Ihe Dada lJflll cit O uvre middotV(middotnl1l( IiL Lilt lllt OI1 I OO of

silhoutH( ~ being W1LtU)LlI yuhubull As a ilhOLltUL Ln Jamlr Iv ~U1SWr8 Dllehamp fJlOOIl a multiply n-prodllccd po[cm l ralher thn ~ llllb l c

origilla l and )s r(p rc~~nllLion ura clH~a lwnrd 011111 III Il tirrac-Cd J 10 11(1 l_1n

mu Bkslaquo-d Virginl_

Pi-hia )l )(OI11tIUNi llilh hlot lfllli ~ul rlllt wi-lh ~HhlMotif pmhl

I l h rrIlIfl n111111~ ~IIU KJt l h pm dl uh4 1 (011111-11I11 III 11CxlapmiddotLI

p lIl11iIlFC Ihlll ~ll(hlfr l i llltlllJI

ntm lcc nlhmiddotfTm IIIY ~Ijll l punung 11(

rtprlV lIUllJllII Itl Ill nnRiIl II I POWn11

IiITlCOO4 tlmmq II lilhou4ul M o unlil

~lI HHlI prtlCtlt ~~(jmtnmt IIf thro brillt

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~rrW 1P1Uyenll Illbf m~ fDu nd on Illl

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( ~ f bull IImJu_ 1lflIoplr hlrh Klti1 SLHli1ltalll~middot~ttIIslJ1H1J lUll tl6lrd ~

i ll~prltIOII fj)f I(lblmiddot~ (tlJ (AcrrJltIItshy11flJfflfm t awflt or Itrlw WI 1~(oIlttil

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11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

Inou~ ~

1O -Cn I 01shy

flVinR

WlIlh l~

Ihe 111_ hi [11 11)(

middotIl

middotX11II(II1

~ 1111 III

t I W lil

nd1 Ii lh

Rgtlol ll l l1

ric di ll

Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

llI f 111 ~

1l~ l n l ll

Il l I I ~H

( 1111

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111 11 1

1I1111d

l~ ill 1111

middotl Ile ttlluIYmiddot

1111]11

0 dll

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rj middot)Il1

I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

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I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

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III tI1l t

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fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 12: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

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rllt 1I~~r lrintun ~) It tlo Hj hgtl~

11 111 e(AIUItl of thr I~r~l r flllr lit

IlllllrlUJatlrt1 And t1~llrt1lll 1f(IILLgtItL I I (IlmJ1oll~ lin llt UIHHld 10111

f IUrnl tll1r IflaOtlllIlln lr ( lIulohc

111111 (I pI1llil~otL ~~I IIJIl hll 1~1 1 nf II J1tTlIIllI 1I11nJIlIuh nhu dIltd jJJld

1oW tilth udlnll~~If to Iltr hll~hmrl Vol hr middot RIJiKn I~ IOllt Iuhillf

iiMlJlfl (lIlml( hUVn and huu

ltliirilollll in Inl l Ih U J r II r -it J rjJfrl ldfl Ii IfCj-l lP 1I~ jl

I ~I 1011 t I(II gh~ t I ltvUItilJl ltIn mUll

of It I I 1I11l111 IlfIn 01 Ituu m~rn

ludnni1llInn b Uhll-sLlnru 1lt11)1111 111 II ApPlwnc n IOU ln r l~ ITbull tlj~IJI

ltII II IIloC ill Ihi hfl1lor IIi I If ~tmt hrr Ih~ bull N rl6amp1JI1il1 lIrudnllwltfJ ~j hnllu

It It 111 9111 tNi Ilfi~ (l lliI

lllotul( fl1I ph

nw ilIed Virgi n d a uiJjett Illay J150 h( taken LS Pira bias q nical comrmnlltlI)middot nn lhl pll lhoril of imagts If n ltldonna-likc mOlhers Lhat dppcltcd il1 the b~ hy plopagbull lnda of gOH rnllHlI l and hHrch nnccted tlst hel(~ ill the purist classicitlnl of Svfrini and Picasso It In 19 1q the new ly cr(~tt~d ~I ini~llr flf J lea11It had clubl islmiddotd a ConseiJ Sur e-ric llr (Ie la NuaJilC l

and in Igw t Jollnuc nuiunak cll rn(r( ~ de nUT1 i lle~ 1l0mhr( 1l ~(S I

(middots l~tblis l1tdmiddot I h( Catholic- nauonlllilt1 riler ltlurin liarri who would proe h 1 bl ulIll1onrsial in Pu11 DJ(b a dw nbjcn IJr mo(k trial I aIIIDn

11Q

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

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( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

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REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

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lu lIn

I(nrlll

1 pl l ~

ill Pilll I I ill dlt- 11

i~l1 1 iio l] ull 1lt

II 1l I 1111 I

11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 13: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

rhe ho norary co mmitt(( ror (h e Exposition ~ationalc dc In rvrale rnilc e t de lEnranc( in the summ er or 921 Anoll wJ Cill holic nationali st writer R enl Bazi n was involved in an inqui ry into the po bl em orllH frcn ch birth rate

during the First o rld vVar4R Picabia in in ad ve rtent parod y had rulfilled his palrio tic obligation by co ntributing to th e currenl baby boom willl (he birth or two sons hy difTcnnl mo thers Pied)i had a lso incidCntctll y co mributed

to the ralC o r illeg itimacy As o nc o r th e soc i id -clkClgt o r wartime illeg itimacy was a )u b jcct or some discugtsion in (h e press ((Hllie poe m by Rene Buzciin II n y a plus denEmiddotlllts in Le Callard EnritailU satiri zes the declarationgt o r the ~llini sl(T( dH ygi(IH -- islancc ct Prlvoya ncc Sociae )

If Renl- Bazn wrOI( n Illi~ i )~c in IQ I6 r] iB L middotUJtu de 1 lIlJ_ J l m Sindllir

01 111 Rm ampt w ru- rl liil ()fUVTt IPan I~U(I p IB~ C urio usl) Ihlill il member o f [Ifmiddot A-II1t ni h mtai9 had wfllhn a

~llllll1W lbull 1 nmd Inwdmiddot IJY tlw 1I(ldC ~ny UImiddot lo dIln~ 1888 bUtd bullbull h p rfU H -4 hm an atc idt nl - a n

inkblo t t rh l tlu ntlfJtl lhal happIly di Ir11 11 the l UI~ of l mm hft PjCd)I~ in khlt Ink probahly 1 10 111111101 011 hmu is not IIltanl to h)(

(11) SUI h pIOU~ 1II1Jhlt LlIUIK III ( (1IJfJWIO f

0111111 I~p(l P I 01 -1L1 1t r fVlImiddotw or I)dl hy (j C ( l1d Ulk~_ Ie ~ui$ d lill UR p fnUillk fl ue U middot middot ID(lU VI InCfI[ D Llb lUIIl

JXmr ([]-I tit- uI)m r tlntn~ a 1 1 1gt111

Irulililln Plll l-t-t rr ia-HI j ll CIUil r Hn~

I lIl)n l It liroltI df M Ren U II11 middot I v- ~j ~ JI rl in~ hl rioul- 1ClUunt of II uint If lo r l1 wmiddot bin wluch IS ltII 1114 IItllh l I r Pi ll l1a ]wl BrtIOII ~ Ji I~1

Illri lill11i It a1o llm O1 ifl1 po~siuk [( n~middott

Ii dLi~ 1111 Br-l~)11 frorll b~dinS

ldrputunUllbullbull lit I I l( ~ Wfmiddotf d lKIlllut

~~V~ h( Plrl bi~ po llS( 110 Ihe birth W I (lRdimiddotrlhl middot If I 1llIIl IlfK tUH cnsis uf 111 Wll IIf 1ff1U IHmiddotll h (1I middoth CIt Imiddot Ij 1)0

nllde= li l him u ld UlIll 1gt pullnmiddotrl )Ill himiddot nu~- ll1isto)u cinnamon Illr

hr-utiu Joibullbull aUy mll1 JJY md mid wik hLIloncti G rrM Il ( IILd III 1JtI nl

Itl1t ~ 1 It lll im PirllJi l (rrlllll ll f

E-r llll~ l llllldll Jr VlllflU Pari$ 19i I )lPtl- 1)11

o I hi

I

FiJoHC R rrl[~ bull ~ brtry 1 ClmdA lMlql~l r t lI ilJbIw I ~I~O PhOllXU1 11

7 (J X ss oem

23(J ELIZABEllI LEGGE

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

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I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

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d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

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middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

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middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 14: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

ill il

Plri

Iuhn

11n l

pih

I hII

111)1 2

I dill tll

IIIP

~

Ulll of

II II

h

t il n ln

Ii l ~II ~

U Iitlll 1 rd) It 11 th

II(lTlnl

1 Ii I d il Hrt l

111

Iml middot(11~1

t ~Jrr I I~ ltll i~ licabil [Itllil [ IriJII 1 1lt121 Ink fI]) jl1)lr f

( IIIIU flrlmill fiR 1910 1 PltJ In Imiddot~~Jraquo 11lJ ll l1ry 19z out Irlie le Ilu dr1I dr IrnlIH d( I~ ilh thl 11 111 tl illl Li ll ltC 1 1 Ilh ic~ 11lrown

~ h tlll1I r r~ luublnds h~ mdt

l ~ul I 1110 (lft dlld prOltCliol1 or f ll Il(l OIl H I in his pndkarnfnl

111 1ImiddotnnlJ 1111 Iia i~1 lllld comm uni

jill II nllil I lllOUT die hi nh COl lll pII It0

ftII r llttJllilll1l tr i r~dl( IUiJ11

pr~ Ir II1U(nlil~ hO)lil tls a nd social

I)IlifUl ~r JlJll lhmiddotI

1 II ~JII (lw~liuJ)illg J)ad~ pOIcne l~ 1 1 hl~ dll U-ed p OSI I oIl

lliofI1[LiU il l l Ilt partICular (O l llX I

tu I 1111 II iii II ljl(

made at a th en recent Congres ele la la tali[ e

O ltUII tllt que j t VOll S penllcl

P(JHLItIl VII~ dllO- intimcs D (n Iirc di1kgitimcs

Micux vaul hLtnl que jlmaisY

The govcrnmcm ls birth ca mpaimiddot11 drew ridiculc gt elsewhe re in Picahias

circle In Ribcmont-Dcltgtaignes play o r March 9 20 LEl1Ipereur de Uine a Mini I of Births Ipa rod ic or th e newly en tecl Minister o r H ealth) (Stablishes the riglll nurllhcr of lt iJildrcll lly an tpprupri nte Dada c han ce method il throvv o f the tli Cc il So pn oi umably allthi materni ty propaganela mig-ht car ry through intn La Sainle ~i~ the Blcssed Virgi n being the model o r Cholie mOlhcrh ood

The m ore Cxtreme cxamples o f the ex horlltion~ to cnfantcr in volved the concept ofth ( impe l du sang the fair exc hallpoundc ofWQIIll n I llood in childlled

bull bull

o

0gt

o o

o bull

G 0

0

REVE-IL IIH i

~

bull ~

bullbull ~

OJ

for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

bull nmlll lltlllollJUI- Iltfl~TIlII tl l lm-url 1ffi

ftll lmll JJjflJ~ PUts l Jl lL ( ltd in

Fnt ~middotUI ~t -nUmiddotOllld La middotjmiddotmlfff liM (1) it 4

Cum Lf 1 I -tr ~ Igti bull p Jij~

5gt i~ rill P 1gt4

~ 1~lUjJr Iab -Emit II k 0 (1 WIi~ middot

tctlq p in poli inlIrt dllW~ H~Imiddotthrr

XIIlI1I middotXI iu1 1hr hlocw t~hrd of )r It l It uWtbr xgtIKtrm ~I k jrl d LU eil llJ~nl

IIC 1IItlluu ) ~ Idly OIL tn tm amp IlOIlt I n It

Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

5 R(ollr C olll nO) f O-[ Gn~

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

Inou~ ~

1O -Cn I 01shy

flVinR

WlIlh l~

Ihe 111_ hi [11 11)(

middotIl

middotX11II(II1

~ 1111 III

t I W lil

nd1 Ii lh

Rgtlol ll l l1

ric di ll

Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

llI f 111 ~

1l~ l n l ll

Il l I I ~H

( 1111

Hi II I

111 11 1

1I1111d

l~ ill 1111

middotl Ile ttlluIYmiddot

1111]11

0 dll

I Iqa

lIUmiddot IIIf

rj middot)Il1

I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

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mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

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middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

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bullbull IIII-fLll

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m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

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Page 15: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

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for men s blood on the batllC riclcl This ha~ a particular appropria(middotness to La Sailte Jiif~ge as bloodslain middot- Picabia expressed hi own cynicism ahout Ihc war in Jesu~ elmsl Ra ltiqfJnllfl e obsering lhat while murderiJlg childnn is ill e~al ~ till the homeland our ~ccond morhlr call ilJlm()latc~ children al will lor tht greater glo ) o f poliliriall middoti Ink standing metonymictlly for blood is an (X lCIlSion o[tl1( di(hc oflhe pcn VI I1iUS the iword For exa mple Emile Zola s laGo CEntre elle Sallg ha d oppo eci Lhe prolil li-ssly shed blcI or Lh e hat lkfidds 10 ink lS i Icncfe lach( dI e nc pourril pa s Cmiddotc[ Icncre qui fImiddotconde ((Sl die qui est la gril l1dt furce de la civilisation __ middot ~II Pic lbias in j the ink of someon( who euded military duty in the war by cOll1i(ltt lly

elboral c 111 -11 $ His lack ora r record was the subj(middotcl o[sa n aSlic commclll

in II ll e carly rlc riiion or Paris Dada by Ruland Calcuoy in Lt Callard EIUzaiflr Au -i ~i CSl-on tr s fier 100-iquon Ie voil s( Iricilir d UI1C ttHe page e l j c nai quun rfg ret c cs t qlle M Fran((Ji - Picabi ~l Il c -Oi l pas venu de li ndre k patrimoinc avec nou s -

23~ E LI Z A BET H LEeCE

Figure 10 franci PIra bia HJMI Iaa 9Q Ink QII paP I 1 8 X 111J 01

)1 O r UIm mJ Btlll l 1 wi

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Wrl~ Ih ~ Itlllmu iLi Ih1I I~ hi 0 orj (UtUtflf l mId liw middot~ l rl Rlml ( nWI

middottlillKlI tha t bullbull isu pl olo ) lh rv ltJ Kh iWd JU1middott 11J (rilll~ JjtfJl

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The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

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1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

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ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

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11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

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middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

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middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 16: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

--

~ 0]]1

d rrrniffCftf (1 ill ~ J)j (n r

I

Salf IH I

~ liX tlIlt

twd I If II

111 I tllIitJ II U

10 1111 I iI

own

I I bull 1~ ]JI UlHU I (Il il F 4 l d lI IIt I L I

I JIll dr 1~ll hl IllU middot middot bullfnrnr~ til U

Ii l P I pln

1 IMtT II [r 1I1nS 1(11 lt1 OOlr or I 1ZIIIfbull 1111 1 ilO 1 SiiJh lI1ilf r

The Virgin o r coursC is the very type of mo twI who sacrifices her son to

a higher cause In devo tional irll agtry ~ h r i- oftell dcpic tcrl in the act or draWing atlention to bJood her bleeding sacred hcan or h([ Scm wou nds (f igure j) La )(111111 Virrgl could be taken itS comment on the alJowa hlc d(~irlblc

blood of sacrirClt battlc and childbirth ) offi cially encou ralcd by Chu rch and State It happe ns that a cult grew up around a visional) peasant ~ rl Cla in Ferchaud Ia voyante de Loublandc during tillmiddot GnII Va l Ferchaud had recu rring visions orlhr Sacred Heart pi(rced by thorns and si lt predicted that

only when it was placed on the Hag of France alld France cediclI td lO the Sacred Hea rt would the war CIJlIll 10 an end i Picabia s COV([ of iIirame with the Sacred l-kart printed in rrd on whit e fI~11Jre [ l might be Ltkcn in this context

In ]esus-Clnlll allaquouere PicabiCl mocks myths of virility and heroism a nd praises the relative i rllH ()fdw f(middot m ininc H e caslig(ttc by implication th e postwar birth drive the lt rctinismcmiddot tlllt ) in Ihe n 1I11C o r the Ira nd

avenI viril ) f(~concl lt1 novalcur du mock puslll - men towards an

-

-

I ~ t laquo lll h~

1 J

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

Inou~ ~

1O -Cn I 01shy

flVinR

WlIlh l~

Ihe 111_ hi [11 11)(

middotIl

middotX11II(II1

~ 1111 III

t I W lil

nd1 Ii lh

Rgtlol ll l l1

ric di ll

Otif middot lllh~ all tj hir 1 11 nr II

llI f 111 ~

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Il l I I ~H

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l~ ill 1111

middotl Ile ttlluIYmiddot

1111]11

0 dll

I Iqa

lIUmiddot IIIf

rj middot)Il1

I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

r I 1111 1Iil)n 19~ p JI

u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

L

~ IWI 1M

nllw middot

111 lUI ~ ( 111 ID

pn I -I

1111 t -I

) Fotlol r

1 )(lt ))1

II I IiI I~ I i Idr

l(o Iw I1middot I mUI r

liI

d1 ( middot1

ri l1 Lil

ji ll PI L h j

lu lIn

I(nrlll

1 pl l ~

ill Pilll I I ill dlt- 11

i~l1 1 iio l] ull 1lt

II 1l I 1111 I

11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 17: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

oversatuJalion of Iheir pcn group ~llidy ror th e puq)o- - of e() IIITving IIwir eapitalisrn e maseu lin 17 Picabia of coursc needed to flex hinl~dr in the skirmishes 0 1 male Dada as much as he needed th e company of women a-

hi5 ullsalisfactOl) tll( lTIpts to liv( outside Pari in this period prove any desire on hi pan to appropriate the Ilminine means nlailling a m(lllin e gplll rl

or power struggle as wrl l l David H opkins ha~ Clrgu(d for the tantalizing idea o ILJ Sainte Viergt as an

eXlcHsion or Dada cross-dressing and (rt1lSg-rcssion of sexual boundaries If

so Pieabia wou ld be asslming for him-df the woman 19 powcrs ofpro(J(-lilln condensed inlO the bluodstain o f lost virgi nity Ht Il)uld be extending th e term s o f Hennes Triim(gl ~ ltl s hcnnaphrodi tie God implied b y ~ Unique

Eunuque (an inltil t derived front pollinain s Fndzanltl17 pmaissarl~ BUL this darkly wishful appropriation oCthe feminine ir such it is parlakes of(()mmoll cultural ph objih a bout women who arc represented b y Dueh amp and Picabia in terms of makr-up anu stai ns Their operations are closer to the parodies

of drag thall Ihl t)l1trollnl Airtatiow Ih idflItily the speaking through a

-1omans vo ice Orllansvcaism Ivfadele ine Ka hn hIS rtTt l1Il y argu ed tll H the male author who speaks through women endowi the fCnlaJc voice with pOwer and also rc(e ivls pOVofr appropriating fellal e srnsibility without ri sk in a dialectic of di splay and cOIl t( alnl lmiddotl1t wh ich has In do wIth the construction or identity iL(Jr ~8 h il t Duehalllp Rro~C St la u r jlax Ern~i s hmme cenlll r) might be Jfad in lerm~ of this g(nd( r megalomania as aut horial

projects for creating tht pe rf(- c t wuman lhroLlgh l1lhqucradt- Picabias La )aillli li i t(r has 1ll0rt ll) do wilh c Iealing the IIH)st pfT(IYtly Ilavved middotoma n

La Sapoundlll f ltlle he n I ad as ink as bloodslain i~ certainly phobic fhe

clemenI of clisgu-Ot attached to ill k is InOl( clelttrly cxpr( ~cd by Pic(tbia in his ink draing Claliifill oC [ ~r22 3 Ifieu rc 12 in which thl prodigious ftow of ink stands ((Jr urin e lCmell lx(J(II1cnt ]11lt1 sadislically blood ~lany of PicabiiJs erutic draV in~s of t1w period allude to Auhrey BeardsleyS ~)lJ i) lr(hl

drawing In LIa-lHtisI P ica bia lake tIll sinuo u~ ink-flo-as-blood (iom Beardmiddoti(Y smiddot drawing ofSalomc S erotic rOllle mpl at io n or-the h(lri oJohn the

Baptist to an nVtIS lltlt cd cunclusioll haL is rt ( tJndltHin~ i~ al-() [(tid In lhi contexl Picabia Blcscd Vir~-in has a nO) lalg ie ~PlCl lnokillg hllk to the lalc ninrl ccnth-Ct l1lury y rnboli~t bloodlhir-ty and cxually -cc1l1ing icy vircentns ltlallanl1(S HtTudias jaimc Ihorreu dtl( e rgr middot (ln d Vildc and

Bca rdstys SaluJIle -Vllll-l IOt viI ~ril1 ity is disp111 t( limo th e evcring o rJo h n the Bapti - I s hltad

As we havc secn 111 1920- 2~ Picabia was e ngajn middotlid1

Ribcmont-Dessaigllcs in i1 co mmcllt 1ry on the (()nciition of al and its

exhibition This I abo 1 period 0 1 h i fbmhoYl1I lIld difficlIlt relatio nship

with va rious exhibiting bodi(s t- Pllcabia Icstcd the lon sclYltlli lt 1Il oC lite established (cubis( ant -gardc The first important skirmih occurred ~It the

J)I9 Salon dAulornnc Th e Presidellt FrantzJollrdain hung Piclbia 5 work

(including Rileil 1(1lin and Elflll Carllllrahwj ill a laircl~ tll I-nid (on trovcf$y Picabia) true 10 Corm ma rlUtCl ulcd lhe con trll veJs~ tha t

Jourdain had hoped to avoid Wri(in ~ toJ ourda in ill uJollmal dll Pellpl Picabia dllIltllIdcd to know the function of the S~lon dAutomnc did it ex i t soltl) to support dealers and paillters who oug ht ill ~ltad to be c hihiting aL the commncial salons oftllt nistls Fran(a i- (ftllt SoCiill ~~llioll ~l lc d e Bcau

Arts If ~O) truly modern arti-ts wen heing ~acrifICtd to ilppcae idiot the

~ H EL IlAI3ETH LEGGE

l-i)UI t

57 - I~(fit p 250 tl)lmiddot

SA HlrkilI1 middotQUt~-l I ni ll~ 0 1(111 Pl l lltr middot f11U huld-IIW Kdm OJ

INfof)rlf Hlrt awl rrnWlr m ThI 1~11lIIh ttnlrl rl middotr~tj (luI Ithltl 11

MJ 11gt x

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

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I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

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d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

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rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

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middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

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I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

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t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

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lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 18: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

I ~ult IJ lti lllt11 Pirllla Lc Cl~U1IcUJtN

~I i III ~ GJrdbord

Salon dAutomnc had clT~c timiddotcly fa iled ill its mall(IImiddot to be modern and it (ould 1lvC no IiltLher ITdson to CX iL Y

A secolld ex hibit ion c risis occurred in February 1 ~ 120 when lllt o rganizCl o r th e cubist Sellion elO exhihili oll dCT id d 10 lxduck D lda ami-1rt

t~jn for Picaigtia thi 1nLrkcd he trayal and crnsorS hip within slIppnsc-dly mocielll ein middot-s induding hi) old friend GlcizLs GrCllr~ t of aJJ would be the ris is lttround d lC J ql l ~alolJ d utnrnnl in hi eh pbgmiddotii1rislIl dccustt ion lt w~re aga in lcvelltd ~lgJima Picuuia 1pound alm plIhli_ IHd PiuliJ ias l rur Chnudi r HDI1Ulflg~ a Imnt ]oIlTdulll i jlh Ihe d rawill oran a ir-Iurhillc brakc rom a

sc ient jourllt on which it W Li bl smiddotd PicahiI- r~pon (middot to the accu sation was to rcj fTl a ny clislinn in rb t ce n Ihe ( (lp)i ng ( I lIl ol~j((l ~lnd the co pyingshy

ora representatiun (lra n ()bjcn 1 IV ~ J lould cOjgtying a n lpplc be an tloc plah lc

art activity) vhile copying a rl r~1 ing or an ai r-tllrbinl brake middotas not

Dil icllltics inltn~iftcd hnJourcklin jsucci c l-llemelll inl t ndcd to dampen

~ t

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

CrNJtt)J~l J1 N mTlIlhtT I~ )J al

liM 1111 S tb U 1gtUlrlIl1U

IrullIlIllJ) l ~ttlOsectt(llh r n i _w

ptlC III llw V(lftJ1l hmraquol

humiddoth ~ In 0110 11111111111-

I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

~ ( (1lIrnthlll1 D middot- 1I11r 111

1ITrn W-in 7lIr HlJIdJ (uIll

hi t 11 lIlV~n 1~1t pp i Itj bull

1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

II In l ilt

~rIrJ HlC

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I 111n 1_ IUI R t tOVer or 1bull1ll1=jllllr

-41 no 1 ( I M t nh 1 ~1t

1 1111 l It 11 ~ OrlltJHt ~l~

l I k 1 Iullo- It HtJNIf 1J14 ]11

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u I

The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

llltflLcl f) lo)

contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

I ud Da d~ J ~ I)ltMIIII lht d 11l~(l Ilf

l lll l( I ~ lh 111 u1 IlI1ldtl middottAmiddot IlO-i)

il4iUhk pHil Ii imilIcl1r ululrgto

rwlltA p jllJ1 phtl1olmII) 11

mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

trHuhdu Incfl middot1) III ill lit IV1 III lI-II hj t(I of a1l1 I Ik Jlu

Pl)rl r lil middot pblillli t- 11Il C(Ji~JQ

t1lt)

70 Ht pki ru 1(1 1 Dur hullpmiddot ~

middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

~flkmnly ~Cl ofr 1llln1 I~uk JI

1 Itl llh n lclll l)lItmmiddot111 )ii ( in~ nlll l l ~ Im MllLlll I ~ll

111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

i middotI tmr (~dITid 1

Ih T t 110 ldUr1 II lirin Ill- I _I lmiddoto llkidcnnmiddot 1 I~ tiN i J - I 1111 ~Flc rul to Ir~ IIlt~

H J ~UWJ1111 f(1I hl~ 1middotmiddotf I1--fi-- ~ hIIllllf l ) ~rlflJn 11 1III n

111 Ilfflid

L

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nllw middot

111 lUI ~ ( 111 ID

pn I -I

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liI

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I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 19: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

the strange rumour that Pieabia wo uld ex hibit a n explosive paintin g almost a Dada futurisl cl iche) as ir his gifl for agitation we re to beco me ~tctual

p yro technics So issuts o r Picabia ~ origi ni1l iry as a n artis t o r his culpability as a plagia rist) had aga in sur[l(( d LOeil Cfl(oqlnle th e oncnd ing pain ting) a

work consisting p ritll a rily o f in sc riptio ns and signaLUres written by or(rs

seem itselr to raise the issue

Apparcntly b lo (s a nd signatures wc re twinned in Pieabia r xperime nt s as a se ri e) of b lo ts vith his 11lI ll1 all 3( lwd 1O them survivemiddot dramiddotving or [920

Fmnrir Acabia cOllsis tingor a calligT3p hic d rawi ngofhi s sll1 larccl nlmr )signed

I ~lin with his name below is pa rti cular) curio us (figure 1 ~1 ~ It is a lrin o f

III SainII Vill(~( as a drawing in w hich ink is rq) fCSe rHeci as itse if as wel l a a mea ns ordrawing o r wriling- so mething e lse oI It is th e ~aceident of smearing

in Frallcis Picabin lhat re veals the natur( of ink Ink smtars ir a nother piece (I f paper is put over w riting before it dries - like the hlot ) a rudimentary e rror of

pel1ll1an- hip Jlhen Man Ray did a cove r for Liahature in 19~2 hI- picked up Picabiamiddot lrick a nd made a n tg reeiou~ bl ot in the centre o ftlw c1abo rtte ly

calligrap hic eript o f Littc ral un (fig ure IJfmiddot~ FrantI Pi(aiJi(Jl ~ sig nature a nd

La )ainte ViClgl as blot are tht mistak( middot-i) th a t draw the viewers att e llti o n to thc

nature or Ihe m edium (like Hcidiggcr s h1mmc r-as-kn owabk-objcct tha t) in be ing b loken ) r((~tls it s a uth cnti( nature) The ink i p reve nted rro m be ing m erely th e vehicle ror repr(senting snll1L lh ing d-(

As the -si gn ature in Pral1riJ jlmiddotrabia is sig ned Picabia lt(ts orr hi s Il cunc as an

autonomous vc hicle md conundrum which is the sig-nun re a nd which the drawing Both La SainIpound Viergl and Ff(IlUmiddotis Pirahia cuml1Hnt o n art in whic h the signa tun is valued and al the Gl mc lime on an in middothich the tracr (II themiddot

~lrti s t s d r trnnining touch is vllucd It J In December [ 9 2 1 Pieabia prupoSld

thaI lnjour vicncl ra ou Ics g rlJlds imoxiquc) p rdc rer()l1t ~l n illlj)One que tableau une toik blalleh e q ui nc parlcnt pas m i d o nt Ja l ig nalli re

suggcst io nncra CS ge ns au point cit cur (~l irc voir sur c Cll e toile ct qw

co ntiendra leur proprr ((TVeau middoti Bo th rr allriJ Picohia and La Sa( I~~tl

ma rred white surCt( ( had initia ted this poin r For Picabia traditional miun-tic middotlhlt~ in art Vl1erc inextri cably bound up

wl th the comme rcial market ancl lail1ted c ubist mlulcmi-ll1 Il(ltJ( (~ i~u ls

W(T( 1l the co re of his til ts agIin sl fxhibitio n orgalliztr~ In F1allci( Pi((Jbia Pica i isOilttI (S the iglltture as nne o r the a rti sr wa res a n indicato r of the a uthentici ty o r uniqueness or tJ( p iece s Ol lllt it is a n indic 1tur o rthc ru le or lhe free markft li The h(llClJ Pirabia signlturc is ~Jso a shon cOlllm cllla l

011 D ucham p s T allck Chl qui (Soi drntllire du Dr Tl1ud (figure Ij ill hich

the cheq ue is quile oVl rtl y thE g uara nl(( o f the fi na nc ial C0l11 raCI 1JI Thc

chequ( rrpres( nt ~ monetalY value plain a nd sim ple and thus r ha rmingly

stands ror th work of art

tw CIJllflVlaquoI h 4M ffllml Ilil bt Ifj1 711f1l1 p I ll

h i lli lpk lll ~ hu- dl1l11 urmiddotllliun

TIll lhnship 1x1((11 JI irml finJo lII~j f idlbut in lc rrll ~ uflll f mIIII

in hI II ill ltIll ( ~ 1lI1t 1111 I lil lr III 1~ l h h i Il llt ~ Tnrl

tiolt of 11 t1Hll I Irw li rll~o1

lilk 11 t11 r np gtIn ri hu rutll 1 lh ill thr Jf)l I T Illll tIll 1111- md hi al middot prillln i I~ on 1amp 1JI1l1 middotmmiddot l~ IJtlmrfrlrr nrv $ II f IIl~J Jor llidCU Pm IJu1l1fII f wk1middot 1

j~ hi i tnldmiddot middotI(wil r1fi)11~-tlImiddot

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I t u~ Illllrtl ~n gtbulllt11 Smiddot I~Jllfm I 71

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1111 middotmiddotlIIpt~ p itW ((shy IUTmiddot 111 lhmiddot iI~In -lfoIrdr ill ltl lhli rebli In

11 t U11llt lh til (T jmiddotT]I d 11tIIUII and flrr)lilCr~u )n fJf m)7ibf~ J1I ~ thrillshyiJ III I middotIl l f~k V ph~ middot ]OUffiIl middotSi ~flt el

d l(( Ml lldnan middot In tmiddotd Imiddotm ~JfPhIJtr rl JlfmrllMl lIri ftmiddotlr t ~)U 011 dll(middot l)alrimuinr I

P i 1tmiddot lit l itdJI- lIII~Wwmiddotd till L~middot c1IN1HDat tApnl H)I( p q

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

J I

) I lit )dgt ( 1m~( ~ i _ ht Ivl-PII ~( 1

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

i ll DI middotr ltltr1Jl 910 Ink nn ppn J I I 39middot5 un

119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

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middotlIlinnl llmel Plryvll-jrllllit 111 Pical ) Smrrw J 1 kind IJI3U I t l 1t~ II I nIUC L1l utmill 1

middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

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middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

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m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

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bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

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Page 20: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

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The T a1lrk Clip wa made by Duchamp in Pari in Dcclmb(r 19 (9 Likc J-IooQ it 1li-(s qucj li ol1 ~ lbout Cluthen li(ity a a meticulously h(nclm ack work ol l lt lht c hequc is ncrc li nri ly I bad cheque lhe countClfci tcr cran hL bee n made into a fUlIctinnlcslt sdlpl(ldy) a~ well as a parod) (lr ~lrl isic c ran Furth er as iVroll y Nfihit has ~howll cUl10Tll ing l flOOQ th e 1onn Lia had to co me to sign ify mOI1Ctltlry vlluc lS well lb ac tual va lue had been cast into dou bt a ft er it was stolen in Iqll lr RUlllour lhat the rClurnen 4ona lil(z W LS 1 fake I substituted fo r the Inst orii ll ll persisled loA Did Ducil t111p ineidcntaJly la boriou~ly r(~to n th e ~hattcred LmJf Gln ~r with its hundn ds of ( racks beca u-c rill ay that the 4olla Usll Ilacs been 7lutlwIlticated vtlS not by connoisscl lrship hilI by the n (ord orits crarks Frrmris PimJin tak(s on Ihe implicatiun of the Taf(k C((It as a travesty ofa promi ssnry 1101 ( (lffilla ncia l

237

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

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119 Jimiddot I1~ Chn 11( oIlqU middotmiddot II Hfoit -mtoI ) 13 ricall utlrl 1111 I

phl JlUl l1lt l l(S m II( 01 d~ 111I1Ilf1

middotm ilt HIlnLl 11 ( (11IIJln l t l rlrt

mf pn r l iTiq whf hil(I UI( Imiddot([ (

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mlll1 Artl ~lI1c (KXrfhl _i trfw 1Im P I HIIIIII hld il(ool iwtftl

4mJirt Qm ~ I Dadl l Imiddot 1111( aUK Jalllmiddot l h (LIIIJ~ II III ftni HJO t lH~ bld lu Ix lgtlUdnnnJ lin

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middotlrlui(IU VII inlll1MW h l~ IJu1 1 holy rdin i)ur h )lpmiddot middotrnilal

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111 1 i1l 1 i bi1f~t numh l r Ihr i)1 L CHiI ( llCINMIlIt 1lt 11 t ~u~n middot I Imiddot Ifil l rir-n 01 11 dirmiddot -r IKur 111(11 t cnTT tll ltl rill 7- 1 Slt (irc 1 mit 1[ IlI1 n

P JI ( JffJitm n-1)t)luld I ~ fit l U II t) I r~ 1101I11I UPIIINoU (1lt1111 Rid I-I l~nr Sill 111

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works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

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nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

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1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

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m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

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bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

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Page 21: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

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contracr and it may have to clo wilh the work or art as n contract reAcning Picabia vi ews about th e desirable relationships he-tw(en [he modern artist and th e exhibit ing bod y (he wo rk or art a nd th e vi(wn New and w Inant undertandinglt were required to replace traditional expectations anc above a ll commercial contracts In esus Cfuisl RastafJllouim Picabia aUeurol ckecl the commerCe ora rl) and it roncolJtitant c rcalion or a rt sl a rs r phcnomcll(s like beard ed ladies and lillie lileralY cyclopsl in Ihcsc lerms -Tolls b individllS phenomenes ve ulent etre opium a u morphine dlLlln s plu pratiql1c ~

vcndenr leur signature - cha rlat an comme les poils ciu cui de lVlailomc t Oll

un marceau de la croix deJe~us sigllcs par la sugges tion de-i ~nobs (X) The spu rious authe nticity of the religious relic the signature and the (l( ~ liolllhl y sensation a1 work of art m ecc 70

W he n Picabia made Chapeau de Paille in 1921 wilh Ihe inscli plion M ___ pour ceilli qui Ie rega rclc he was doing more than provoking a limitcd range or possible meanillg5 of 1M (his merei or (he suspicious critics mtTdc)

Signac rejecled Chaprau de Paille rrom Ihe [922 Salon des Independanls becauc it did not fit inro existing approved categories ofwork adm issible to th e Sa lon Picabias o pen-ended wi l supposed ly -i ts lip a variahle c-i-illHia l to Picabias views ofrreedom However this open-ended inscription really onl y leads to o ne conclusion - mercle l

- that comments 011 both till delimiting nature of inscriptions or titles for wo rks of an in general a nd on the scanda ls provoked by Picabia s own inscriptions 1 The re is an amusing relationship between Picabia s Chapeau de Paille and a contemporalY cartoo n ill LI C(lfuml Enchafne in which a sIudell( scrawl ing merd on a wall is assunmiddotd by his companion that this constitutes plagiarism f igure J6)1l Ivlcrde it cclui qui Ie lira was a schoolboy slogan commonly scrawled on walls and in Lwpeau de Paille Picabia appropriates this ctiche vandalism presumably as OJ 1) of commen ting on his a ttitude not on ly to cha rges of unoriginaliry but a lso to the role of the viewer7t

Picabia s conce rn that th e work of art be ab-()Iutely liberated from the exigencies of (he commercial market a nd the inhibiti ons or taste was part or his insisLence on th e liberty of the art ist to exh ibi t anydling including unoriginal rhing-i - without constraint In the period leading up to Ln Saiule Vierge and Frarnis Picabia Picabia had been outraged by the censorship orhis

2 3 8 ELI Z ABE T H LEG G E

FilII I ( j gt I ltl n OUd IJHl jJ i~IJ __

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t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 22: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

111 Ilfflid

L

~ IWI 1M

nllw middot

111 lUI ~ ( 111 ID

pn I -I

1111 t -I

) Fotlol r

1 )(lt ))1

II I IiI I~ I i Idr

l(o Iw I1middot I mUI r

liI

d1 ( middot1

ri l1 Lil

ji ll PI L h j

lu lIn

I(nrlll

1 pl l ~

ill Pilll I I ill dlt- 11

i~l1 1 iio l] ull 1lt

II 1l I 1111 I

11

I un Ih Ii tmlll rd llIchaini February

t bull f a m

bull

t un la-

works at the Cirque dHiver ex hibition or D(c-mil( r 1919- The ex hibition organizer M Sandberg had asked him to supprfss the scurrilous inscriptions on several works Picabia in his disingenuous accuunl in LeJoumal du Peupll says that he offered to withdraw his paintings since he did not want to mutilatr them in that way He wa~ iupponed by a number of his friendsmiddotovho also ofi(rcd to withdraw their pictures rrom th e exhibition Unsurprisingly) Sandberg scclllrri t() capitulate in the fa ce or this prrsSun) but when the exhibition opened Picabia Wit S aS le)uncitcito discove r that IiI tic pieces of paper had been stllck over the orfending titk - and inscription s Pi cabia glv(s hi s vi es o n the presumption orSandberg and on the implication orc his act orcuratorial va ndalism

II y a In un allcntat inqllftiifilhle contre la lil)(III arli slique el un abus de confiancl pnsiqllc jli j ll luis (I) pris(I1(( du ftil aneJl llpli Y1 Salldlll fg cst parilit-il un Capitlttlisll qui PCIISI qlH son tIgr llt it li se rf de Jla S~(-droi( la suite judiciaire que j c ltample donner a tC tll nain monln~ ra si l en cst forc l lll t m a insi nlailt dimiddots a ~iourdhui jt dcmande au JOllmal dm Pcuple de raire connaitr (ill public ifS agissemc nts scandakux de ce pcrltonnagt Cvn lequcl aucun conrrat llt VOllS lie bien cenaincment1

So in Pi cabias opin ion Sandberggts folly -vas a vio la tio n of artistic freedom in general By threattllillg a law suit Picabia sens his convictio n [hat there is a kind of contraci made in good fa ith between artist and exhibition organizer - which ill this insta nce has been broken

It is the implicit contract between anist and curator and then between viewer and wo rk oran (haL is [ak(f) up in Frallt i Piwbin tiIl picture hat is a signed signature To d( m ea nings aboul authEnticity and commercial value raised by th e sirI1ature another mea ning may be proposed that has precisely to do with the nat un uf (his co ntract Th e Larousse di ctionary that had

239

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 23: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

provided Pi(abia with ~o much in spirat ion nlay aho have provided a defin ition

of a k~it l te rm ) blanr-seillg that res()na te in Fr(lIIris Pimbw

Lt hlml - HlI~ ( lln e 5o i~lI~ll Un- appoiif dJ-ltl II ( ur I IIl C rnlile de papier la i ~ lc

blan che en toU ou en panie 1 Idfe l de rCl nuir urtr convention au UIlC (k daralion ((SI Imiddotdina inm e nt lun 1l1rtndat(1irc qHon rerlle l un blanc-(~i ng

lo rsqu ~ In 5( (mi l dall i ri mpoSo)ibilil t d e prevoir tous le~ ICU- q u( t~middot m lIl dll)in~

d t Vl11 (Xtn l1fr -t lon h-5 c i r(on~tall ce 1pound (O(k pcnd a p r cVlI lc cagt Otl cdlli qui a rt ltu If- bbnCi( ill~ (n l h II SC 3i l

Picabia likcly sh and his coll eague Ducha mpSi ~educ t inll by nOla r ia l (Ind kgal

te rms The hlal1r-tifll elJuld scn as a metaphor fur the ideal cont met betw(l n till artwork and th e viewcr the a rti sts s i ~H1 lure no In nge r merely on

n oJ1omic guara ntee but a gesture of go od flith ~il 1l tu II I viewe r as

mandalairc who must cqlll lly act in good ra ith according to the variable

circumsllttnCf seeing 1IIerci in stead o f mcru cmiddot l It i 11 0 t only the ~ i ~llature

orr he -lur- o f a n tha t Picabia racct iously olflrs the vilwcl but also a signed

bLalll-JIfillg a con tract in which only IIi)middot middotmrd i~ a ncc cs~lI) tcrm

The [lrUUSoi middot ~ivc ) a less spec ifica ll y legal m eaning or g ivin g SUnllClllC a

hlllll(-ilillg it is to ~ ve completc libert y ( donner tOlltc lihc fl l ) So it is the

equi a lrnt o f the m o re commo n dol1JJtr carl e hlanc he The bLanc-V11( lhcn

i ~ lIo t only an absolute ly upc n-clllkd act o f good fai lil but it is allt t) a gmiddote~ tllre

o r complet e freed om The paper llU Y m ean or bl on h ~mythillg S ueh

liberty wa the th ill g th aI PicalJi l w~lIJl(d to stake Ollt for himselr abovlt- all and 1 hsollllcly o n his OWII paraUOXiGtil tr1l1S s h( sa rdo ni c-a lly rema rked in JefLf- rII1J~1I Ralfnqllnuhf J ( n c non nc m a parole d h( 11111 cu r (I LI e pou r Ill ln lir )7~ Lal e r I1 n PiC lgti1 hro ke wi th D adltl he Qu id lt ay Lha t it was hcca usl nun Breto n and T zara had ltt ltac kmiddot cI individua l h-tcdom lI

This hkmc-sring ta ke LI S hJ ck (Q La Snillt r Jmiddotfrtt In cmhly o the rormt(s~ blot initiates man y o f the islI ls recapitu lated hy PicaiJ in late r -yorks the

dem taning cheapness (dt he work ofart in a commercial markel tnt picllIJtmiddots

frecdom [nll]] any rtquircl l1 c nr (Jirnim csis ur ( c n of represen tati onal contcnt

and the lreedom o flll e viewe r to sec or hall uci n ate Ifly lhi ng at a iL Fancifu lly

lilc bLnnr- rrmp Clll aho Ix asol illrd ith til t rlIall po ssihle wa~ o r

n prese llt ing- thl Virgin vl ary La Sninlf i~1 Ki vl ~ a Dlda VfT S ioll or a rcligiou d eVOl ional im age - 111~ i mtl~f hat lLrLr hat Clll)C momC l)OUS CVC il u for rhose who look a t her wilh t itt prope r II tit tide ofcrcdulit yO I rhccL (Pi( - ~I biltl was iiT ( Illcnlly ill a ki nd o r emut ion d extremis a nd ill n CTri (f (c] nalc

consolat io1l ) VO live images o r lhe IVladol1 nLl w~n madt il1 th e ir Ihu ll S lI lI ls so (hat thc Virgin d epict ed could anser Cl1 l n ali (~ and receive thanh The

parody o f h e re ligio us image- (I S inte rclc1il1 ~ image tha t (nrnmunicate with

tilt il~T r a nd upon which thc viewe r m ay pn~ec L need a nd -ishes is

paralleled b) ti ll image of an open lega l Contract to be fillcrl in aC(ordill ~ to circumstance in h mlcis Pi((lbia

Finally tl Ducha mp-stylc wHdplay can bring lilt [wo images devo tional alld Ic~al together Donner un b lanc-twi ng ~I qUfiqU llU is ho rno ll ymically

Donner un blanc st in it quclqulin th e signed -hile page is ltliso the profliTn

-vhite breast And hal th e Virgin dOl ill Ol1e conven tion u r hc r

represen tation is prec isd) to offer Olll whil e h n tSI to the Inl~nl (and b~

lension the viewerJ (l igure 17) T he re a rc m a ny accuu nt S o f im ilges o r the Vi rgin that COin I a live a nd o ffe r a b reast 10 com rort the slIHc ringoflh c Etit hfut

l I O EL J IIIpoundTH LE((f~

r) IIUmiddotI r II l ta 1121 If I

J mmllh~ 1lln PlIthi4 ~rmIlIJtII

nIlwd ~htt-(ur ohM1lmiddotI uI(1l(ulIl l llu-d h jll IThW ( ur u1

tJrUfs Ih11 u~ lhc wImiddott tiJ~

middot t an~I -numiddot 1gtl(~WfI~ 111 PI _U1 11111141 JI tilh Il a llli~ nr II t1o Irl1llird h 1 - hil(Imiddot rdll

JlOml-lk-( llI dlltm rtuhlcruJI (1

judl idm (Ju u un lcnn- (10- 1 Ii jn1umiddot 1 Illum-Ilt 011 dlIl11n hM

1l 1nllr~ d ll IlIIl p lI lrir (III M(liulillfl Lune ftinlrr 11 til l

4~JlWfIiJr j I LI~ t~JI Ii I

1tcampu ~ ~t fr flltt Ufi

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 24: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

~ CWlUttnt

Tl lll II 111middot

111 1111

111 lIlh It ~ N L 1 lll iI

W I 1 1 111

i ll npp jl l 1

lUll 1111111

III tI1l t

1 rllol W H

fit la int

n h~ llo r It I H 1 1(

bullbull IIII-fLll

0 h III Din 1 Iout~ tl1 d III d 1lil lIi LoH 1-shy

J I

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo

Page 25: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Virgin SCAN

m ost notably St Bernard s visio n orthejet or milk rrom a statue orthe Virgin reprcsc lllcd in pain (ing~ by Filippino Lippi and wlurillon In Picabia)s inkblo t (he Virgi n could be engaging in one of (he twO bodil y secretions allovcd her J

lactation a nd because the m ilk is ink tlan-grcssing that I(~nuous propriety R oland Cateno) had complained of Dada ~ inglJluitc hihe- ronnie rc in his attack on Picabia in Ie Conard ErlChnur in Februa ry 1920 8 Pe rh aps La Saillie Vierge is just suc h a thing

142 E LI Z ABETH LpoundGGE

77 Warner Hunt of (lfl lin ampl pp rC)8 ro rerc roo to tho many accOUlltS of mirncles 11111 1sions or tht Vi ) nmiddot milk set bullbull Iso

FI-~oh-rg gtlJltl1 of ~j PPmiddot 3 9 jtt 3fgtH t ll tho P~ dll)WXH11 imphl u ioru of )o llch Imal- 1gt1 lilt Virtin and tht middot r YJIIUlumiddot 01 Ihe hnusr 7H - A Od l ~ A CI( U ( JltlIml EMIJinIJ

u) IQQ p 3 Tlw ulIom Jdlloon b TIJ1LI

oi TI( I~ i ll Apolhllllrcc Mamtlln 1 11(1lt Htl 7 hl o11 W Ih( lUdiCI f feprr io( lLL rh l 1~l rimic wm imc mOlhrr 11middotmiddotI~ I- licdin q her 111I~lIu Ihnu~ I1r1 middot or child rcn ld ~ or l )IJ 1)1 0 JJl1ti 19 1 ~I

IlKr (I$cd I~MIIII c I t Iillnill Hobl t lbNl BnmiddotI r( middot dll1~ I p lfl or Ill rni ) pmpHfomdl n(cKni lcd llId

prVlnolld rIll It) l~llcfh 1 tnr 1 0(1 iUr1Il1

mumlit It o( 19 7 m d lill) 1(gtIt-

II 111( 11 I n huu r our or (he UI nlt rlo) 4)

bff (l - ICfd i ll ~middotl a ll y 11kil ted ronrm in Lh~ orkpILl C fr lIl ~oiQ -l1wblUd Q1-1 m ~bnJl1I-n dlHlliml II fi iJ o1lTftjll Iff

Fr4Jut UN 1wIT( rkkr tr LlIIl 1)RIi p 127 Rell MlIIIl HrlIOlt fotrflrJflfJI

HllUhlVr 1gt11110 II gt p IRo