Duchamp

       
       Marcel Duchamp was born in France to an artistic and musical family. Duchamp's early art works align with post-impressionist styles. He experimented with classical techniques and subjects, as well as with Cubism and Fauvism. When he was later asked about what had influenced him at the time, Duchamp cited the work of Symbolist painter Odilon Redin, whose approach to art was not outwardly anti-academic, but quietly individual. 
      I have posted Duchamp's "nude descending a staircase no. 2" because it was a painting he did that changed the course of his career. For whatever reason, this painting was very controversial in the early 20th century art world. He first submitted the piece to a Cubist Salon des independence, where one of the judges ask Duchamp's brother to have Marcel either withdraw the painting or name it something else. Duchamp came over to the salon in a taxi and took his painting back home with him. A year later he entered it into New York's Armory Show. Here the name stayed but the controversy stayed. The "realism" audience felt betrayed by his futurism view of a nude painting. this is why i think art show snobs are the strangest breed. Why can't art just be art? Anyway, Duchamp is super famous now so I guess controversy is always best.