LHOOQ

LHOOQ is a readymade artwork created by Marcel Duchamp in 1919. It consists of a cheap reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to which Duchamp added a mustache and a goatee, and then inscribed the title "LHOOQ" in pencil on the postcard. The title is a phonetic French phrase that can be interpreted as "look, she has an ass" or as a nonsensical exclamation.

Duchamp created LHOOQ as part of a series of works he referred to as "readymades," which challenged traditional notions of art and authorship. By selecting an ordinary, mass-produced object and presenting it as art, Duchamp questioned the role of the artist's hand and the importance of originality. LHOOQ specifically aimed to provoke and subvert the reverence associated with the Mona Lisa, one of the most iconic and celebrated works of art in Western history. The addition of the facial hair and the suggestive title transformed the serene portrait into something more irreverent and provocative.

The artwork became a significant statement in the Dada movement, which embraced anti-art sentiments and challenged bourgeois values. Duchamp's manipulation of the Mona Lisa can be seen as an act of artistic rebellion, democratizing art and questioning established hierarchies. LHOOQ has been interpreted in various ways, including as a commentary on gender roles, sexuality, and the commodification of art. Duchamp created several versions of LHOOQ throughout his life, further emphasizing his interest in repetition and variation. The original LHOOQ is now part of the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.