(1887–1968) A French artist and theorist who had a transformative impact on modern art and accelerated its conceptual evolution. After studying in Paris, where he painted under the influence of Fauvism and Cubism, he soon turned his attention to the fundamental principles of creative endeavour and the meaning of art. He attracted international attention with his Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (1912), which combined Cubist forms with a Futurist concept of motion. In 1913 he began creating readymades – everyday items that were decontextualized by transferring them from their natural environment to a gallery setting. Among the best-known of these is Fountain (1917) – a urinal exhibited in a gallery. This work challenged both traditional aesthetics and the role of artistic institutions. From 1915 to 1918 Duchamp worked in New York, where he promoted the Dadaist approach. At the same time he also worked on a major piece entitled The Large Glass; completed in 1923, it combines technical schematics with poetic metaphor and is considered one of the most important works of modernism. From 1923 onwards he withdrew from public artistic life and devoted himself professionally to chess. However, he was also secretly preparing his final installation, Étant donnés (1946–1966), which was not revealed until after his death. Duchamp’s legacy lies in his conceptualization of artistic intent, which may be more important than craftsmanship or the material aspects of a work. He is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.