Louis Michel Eilshemius (1864-1941) was practically unknown to the general public until Marcel Duchamp discovered him in the famous first exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists at the Grand Central Palace in New York in 1917.Although today many museums in the United States and collectors of international renown possess works by Eilshemius, the artist has faded into ever-greater obscurity, especially since the advent of Pop and Minimal art.Eilshemius perfectly exemplifies--in an age of mass-oriented biennials and art fairs--the idea of the individualist who resolutely goes his own way; this is one of the reasons that his work today appears more contemporary than ever.This book brings together works from over 70 institutions and private collections, providing the reader with a profound insight into the oeuvre of this unusual artist.In an expansive essay, Stefan Banz examines for the first time the questions of whether and to what extent Eilshemius influenced Duchamp's artistic thinking.Published with Association KMD, Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp The Forestay Museum of Art, Cully.