In 1961, Moderna Museet opened the doors to the exhibition "Rörelse i konsten/Art in Motion", which is considered to have had a significant impact on both art history and the museum itself. The exhibition was promoted as the first international exhibition on Art in motion and portrayed the history of motion in art from Futurism to the present day. The exhibition featured 233 works by 83 artists from 18 countries, including Marcel Duchamp, Alexander Calder, Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely.
When Marcel Duchamp visited Stockholm in the context of the exhibition, the auction's works were created:
"One evening, Moderna Museet organised a dinner for the Duchamps. Marcel had Malou Höjer at the table and the placement proved to be a brilliant move; when someone demanded silence to make a speech, it was almost impossible to get the two to interrupt their conversation [...] Duchamp had been in a great mood, laughing and puffing on a huge cigar. But he hadn't been given an ashtray so he dropped the ashes on the back of a menu. Erik Lindegren, sitting on Malou's other side, picked up the sooty piece of paper and looked at it:
- A portrait of Malou! - said Erik. And similar! - Congratulations!
Duchamp took a good look at his 'work' - mais bien sûr! Then he signed the menu and gave it to Malou. I couldn't believe my eyes." Extract from: Ulf Linde, "Marcel Ducamp", 1986.