Why Eve Babitz played naked chess with Marcel Duchamp

BABITZ: ... [Photographer Julian Wasser] wanted me to be part of this deal and I wouldn't go to the party with him when he wanted to take me because Walter didn't invite me.KARLSTROM: So, what were you, Walter's girlfriend or something?BABITZ: I thought I — I deserved respect.KARLSTROM: I would say. This story is much more interesting than —BABITZ: That's right. I was 20 years old and I wasn't invited to this party. So, I took these pictures. That was it. You know, I got to Duchamp. We started playing chess. [Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution]

BABITZ: I wanted my cigarettes. I wanted my glasses. I wanted my clothes on; I wanted Julian to take me to a Chinese restaurant.KARLSTROM: So you —BABITZ: I knew exactly the one he wanted to go too. Chow Yung Fat. It's down on Main Street.KARLSTROM: So you really weren't all that comfortable?BABITZ: No. No.KARLSTROM: But it was worth it.BABITZ: It was worth it because Walter came in and he dropped his gum.KARLSTROM: So Walter actually came in to see how it was going.BABITZ: Yeah.KARLSTROM: And he didn't even know you were there.BABITZ: No.KARLSTROM: Wow. So you won.BABITZ: Yeah.KARLSTROM: You didn't win at chess.BABITZ: No.KARLSTROM: But you won in terms of taking control of the situation.BABITZ: That's right.KARLSTROM: I mean, did you think of it a little bit that way? Because I'm thinking of motivation.BABITZ: I said, "Hello, Walter" and he dropped his gum.KARLSTROM: Literally?MS. BABITZ: Yes. He always chewed Double Mint gum. [Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution]