What does all this have to do with our beloved capital of the Baix Empordà? The door itself, nothing more, nothing less. The door is now in Philadelphia as it forms part of Duchamp’s permanent installation, residing imposingly in the city’s art museum. Not so long ago, however, it was at 85 carrer Sis d’Octubre de 1869 in La Bisbal d’Empordà, right in the town centre. We owe this curious discovery to Joan Casellas. Looking at a photo in 2010, he knew how to tie things together. In the snapshot, he saw Tenny Duchamp (the artist’s wife) in front of a house in La Bisbal, located right at the address listed a couple lines above. Observed carefully, the front door of the house reveals the enigma: Duchamp used part of La Bisbal to create his final work of art. The marks and shape of the doorway are undeniable. This address still hosts an antique shop today: Antic Bisbal. On the date this photo was taken, it was run by Rafael Ponsatí, an acquaintance of Dalí. Of all the antiques sold in this establishment, doors are precisely what stand out the most. In fact, they say that the one that Duchamp used was the entry to a thousand other doors. Anyone brave enough to speculate on the symbolism?
There is yet another element that may link “Étant donnés 1. La chute d'eau 2. Le gaz d'éclairage” with the Empordà and we’re really excited to explain it as a conclusion. This time, we have to look a bit to the north to find the connection: to the Alt Empordà. Let’s take a look at the countryside represented in the work of art. As we mentioned, it includes a waterfall. A few photos taken prior to the assembly of the installation prove that Duchamp was very familiar with one of the most iconic sites in the Empordà, the Salt de la Caula waterfall, near the town of Les Escaules. If you’ve been there then you know, and if you haven’t, we’ll explain it to you: this countryside is best known for its impressive waterfall. The relationship is more than merely symbolic: could we be at the forefront of an idealization of the Empordà countryside? Some bold voices dare to say yes.