Who was a more influential artist during their life, Marcel Ducham or Gerhard Richter?
Both Marcel Duchamp and Gerhard Richter were highly influential artists in their respective times, but their impact and influence can be difficult to compare directly due to their different approaches and contexts.

Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) was a French-American artist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century. He is best known for his conceptual and provocative works, including "Fountain" (1917), a porcelain urinal that he signed with a pseudonym and submitted to an exhibition, challenging the conventions of art and questioning the nature of artistic value. Duchamp's ideas and works helped to pave the way for movements such as Dada and Surrealism, and his influence can be seen in many later artists, including the Pop artists of the 1960s.

Gerhard Richter (born 1932) is a German artist who has been active since the 1960s and is considered one of the most important contemporary artists. He is known for his diverse range of styles and techniques, including photo-realistic paintings, abstract works, and installations. Richter's works often engage with issues of history, memory, and the relationship between images and reality. His influence can be seen in many contemporary artists who work across different media and genres.

In terms of their influence during their lifetimes, Duchamp's impact was more concentrated in the early 20th century, while Richter's influence has continued to grow and evolve over several decades. Duchamp's ideas and works were highly influential for the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century, while Richter's impact has been felt across a wider range of artistic movements and contexts.

Overall, it is difficult to say definitively which artist was more influential during their lifetime, as their contributions and legacies are complex and multifaceted, and their influence has been felt in different ways and across different periods of art history.